HELCO project in Hilo on again
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — Hawaii Electric Light Co. has resumed construction of two 20-megawatt combustion turbines at its Keahole power plant in North Kona.
The $100 million plant expansion, first proposed in 1992, had been delayed because of numerous court and regulatory battles with opponents fearful of air pollution, noise and its impact on the scenic landscape.
HELCO already has spent more than $74 million on the project, which eventually will add 56 megawatts of electrical-generating capacity to the existing plant's 32 megawatts. Along with the two diesel-fueled turbines, there are plans for another system that will use reclaimed heat to generate an additional 16 megawatts.
HELCO officials have said the expansion is necessary to avoid the rolling blackouts that occurred in the 1990s when demand for power exceeded what the utility could provide.
HELCO hired Isemoto Contracting Co. to finish the expansion, which already has received federal and state air-quality permits. It will take three to four months to get the new generators running — just in time for the high demand that occurs in the fall and winter when schools are back in session and the days are shorter, said HELCO President Warren Lee.
Meanwhile, the Keahole Defense Coalition, made up of residents living near the plant and farmers in the adjoining state agricultural park, is considering its next move, said attorney Michael Matsukawa.
That will likely come when the Land Use Commission holds a public hearing on the utility's request for reclassification of the 15-acre site from conservation to urban. A hearing date has not been set.
Lee said he is confident the LUC will approve the request since the project has been planned for a long time.
The Big Island's power supply also will be helped later this year when Puna Geothermal installs a new production well to replace one at Pohoiki, east of Pahoa, that became plugged in April.
The private company has a contract with HELCO to provide up to 30 megawatts from underground heat sources, but that has fallen back to 5 megawatts because of the plugged well.
Barry Mizuno, the owner's representative who manages the geothermal operation, said the $5 million drilling is scheduled to begin in August and be completed by early November.
