The Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency has proposed a massive radar complex, the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i. If funded, it’s likely to be located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Kaua‘i’s infrastructure and resource capacity would be overwhelmed by this project. Electricity is one example.
The Missile Defense Agency has a frequently asked questions page. Here is one highlight.
Q: What is the impact on the power grid? Does the power company have the ability to support?
A: MDA met with Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. KIUC has ample capacity and planned structural upgrades that will be capable of providing needed power to PMRF for the HDR-H.
There are concerning reasons to believe that this is not true, unless by “ample capacity” they mean to burn quantities of oil at Port Allen.
The power demand of this radar, which would operate day and night all the time, is substantial. A backup diesel generator, with 150,000-gallon fuel storage, is capable of 18 megawatts of generation. Fossil-fuel generators over 5 MW trigger Hawai‘i Revised Statutes 343 compliance. And what are the “planned structural upgrades”? Are they talking about the proposed pumped-storage facility? Isn’t that supposed to benefit the ratepayers by getting us to 80% renewable production?
If in fact MDA received assurances of electricity delivery from KIUC in this alleged meeting, KIUC owes its ratepayers an explanation of how the electricity for the radar would be generated.
We have endured some of the highest electricity rates to support the utility’s goal of 100% renewable production, now over 50%, to lower Kaua‘i’s carbon footprint for future generations and for the promise of future lower electricity costs.
Ratepayers deserve input into any decision to supply electricity to this project that, by the way, has been denied funding in both the Trump and then Biden administrations. In the fast-paced nuclear-arms race, the HDR-H has already been declared obsolete. Only our Washington delegation continues to push it.
The Missile Defense Agency and KIUC should disclose the electricity requirement for the radar for independent impact analysis. KIUC needs to hold by its promise to pursue carbon-free generation, and not reverse course and exacerbate the climate crisis.
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Kip Goodwin is a resident of Kapa‘a.
How about if we have all of the people against fossil fuels spend time on stationary bicycles to generate electricity for any system that will have its fossil fuel energy source replaced with electricity. But don’t store the power in batteries because they eventually become hazardous waste. And not eating gassy foods before riding the bicycle because methane gas erodes the ozone. And you can’t complain about the pain from peddling so long because that’s hate speech. Isn’t fake reality fun?
None of that has any basis in reality.
Power capacity on a small island far, far away from the rest of civilization is a legitimate concern for those of us who actually live here. If you love diesel and oil power plants, please try living next door to one.
It seems the reflex, default, go-to reaction to anything coming down from anywhere (business, the military, the feds, you name it) towards Kauai is to find fatal flaws with it, and then disparage the thing to death. Once upon a time Daniel Inouye was hailed for bringing defense and other federal funds & jobs to the islands. Remember Gov. Ige’s false missile alarm a few years ago, and how it felt to come to grips (albeit for 20 minutes) with Armageddon? We’re already a target—just ask Rocket Man Kim. I’ll sleep better with whatever can be done to make these Islands and the country safer.
Thank you for this information Mr Goodwin. The massive radar seems to be a type of obtaining federal funds for the state, specifically Kauai since our state reps don’t want it on Oahu. But other than it’s construction there will be very little funding needed to operate it other than a few employees and a huge electrical bill. Articles about it show that it is already obsolete and will be even more so by the time it’s built. Just say no to more military projects on Kauai where we certainly have more than enough.
Kip,
Get off your armchair and take a drive out to Mana. You will see that most buildings at PMRF have solar panels on them. You will also see that at the south end of the base, several acres of solar panels are in place. This huge commercial-grade solar farm with battery backup will provide ample power for PMRF systems and will feed the KIUC grid when those systems are not in use.
Missile DEFENSE system. Thst will surely make Kauai the PRIMARY target for China, Russia, or even North Korea.
We will be the “cheese” on the trap. But that’s ok, there’s nothing Here on Kauai that’s so important.
Great article, Kip, with good questions and information. The last thing we need is an already obsolete radar system. What is it about politicians, i.e. our congressional team, that renders them unable to see what is best for the people ? Is it possible that they are more indebted to the corporations that fund their campaigns than they are to the people they represent?
Why do we need this thing? An obsolete installation already determined obsolete and no funding from the feds. Just say no.
Build it on Oahu…. near the military installations already there. Keep the main target where it already is and leave Kauai alone
HDR! a Great opportunity and reason to train our kids in new technologies. HDR, will bring more decent paying jobs to our community and provide good reason for the state to provide financial incentives and discounts for homes to go solar. Mahalo