The state is moving ahead with plans to build a 10-megawatt emergency power facility at Honolulu International Airport.

It will provide full backup power to the terminal during commercial-power interruptions.

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $24 million for the project in addition to a previous $1 million allotment for project design and equipment.

The funding will cover the cost of fuel tanks and a distribution system to run the emergency power plant.

The current emergency backup power system can handle about 10 percent of the airport's peak power needs. That's enough to allow for the evacuation and safe shutdown of the airport until commercial power is restored.

The new system will provide enough power for airlines to continue processing departing and arriving passengers even if the rest of the island has a power blackout.