Negotiations that would result in the Valley Isle’s first wind farm continue between Maui Electric Co. and a California wind-energy company.
Zond Pacific Inc., a subsidiary of Enron Wind Corp. of California, is proposing a $30 million development producing up to 20 megawatts of electricity with 27 wind turbines on a ridge above Ma‘alaea. The turbines would be on 164-foot towers between the 2,000- and 3,200-foot levels in an area known as Kaheawa Pastures on Kealaloloa Ridge.
While Maui Electric has agreed with Zond on the price for power, it is still discussing other issues, such as requirements for connecting to the existing power system, said MECO spokesperson Lynne Unemori.
The price, however, was the deal’s major stumbling block until MECO agreed last year to pay 5 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first year, with 1.5 percent increases in future years. Zond also won a permit from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, allowing the wind farm on state land.
Keith Avery, Zond Pacific vice president, could not be reached for comment last week. The company hoped to have the project running by the end of this year.
On the Big Island, meanwhile, the Hawai‘i Electric Light Co. last month announced an agreement to buy power from an $8 million wind farm to be developed near ‘Upolu Point in North Kohala.
The wind farm will be built by Site Constructors Inc. of California and generate up to 3 megawatts of power at peak production.
The state Public Utilities Commission must approve the 15-year agreement.
The facility would be the fourth wind-power operation on the Big Island. Hawai‘i Electric last year announced an agreement to buy 10 megawatts from Kahua Power Partners, a Zond Pacific affiliate, on Kahua Ranch, also in North Kohala. It also can buy up to 7 megawatts from Apollo Energy near South Point in Kahua
