Posted on: Friday, June 7, 2002

HELCO plans wind farm near 'Upolu Point

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Electric Light Co. yesterday announced it has signed a $5.28 million deal with Hawi Renewable Development to build a wind farm near 'Upolu Point on the northern end of the Big Island.

The plant will be built by Site Constructors Inc. of Chico, Calif., on land owned by the Chalon Corp. of Japan. The plant will produce enough power for about 3 megawatts — enough to supply 660 homes in North Kohala, said Warren Lee, president of the Big Island utility.

The Hawi operation will be the fourth wind-power plant on the Big Island, pushing total generating capacity to 22.3 megawatts.

"Wind power is becoming more cost-effective, so we are pleased to include the Hawi facility in our energy mix," Lee said.

HELCO has been getting 28 percent of its power production from renewable sources, including hydroelectric and geothermal.

Lee said once the Public Utilities Commission approves the agreement, it will take six to eight months to build the plant.

The HELCO contract is for 15 years.