LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Homes Commission has approved a request to provide Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative with 60 acres of land in Anahola to develop the largest solar project in the state. During its October meeting in Paukukalo, Maui, the
LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Homes Commission has approved a request to provide Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative with 60 acres of land in Anahola to develop the largest solar project in the state.
During its October meeting in Paukukalo, Maui, the commission unanimously approved the request made by the Homestead Community Development Corporation, the non-profit development arm of the Anahola Hawaiian Homes Association, to use 55 acres of land to build a 10 to 14 megawatt solar project in partnership with KIUC and an additional five acres for a service center and administrative offices, an HCDC news release states. HCDC says it will develop the project with KIUC.
The non-profit corporation has begun community consultation and outreach to identify a benefits package that HCDC says will likely include local-hire and contracting strategies, production revenue sharing, project design and land-use revenues.
“This is breaking ground on so many levels,” said Robin Danner, CNHA president and HCDC board chair, in the release. “The commission’s action facilitates one of the largest renewable energy projects in the state, developed by our utility co-op and Native Hawaiians, with the potential to bring over $50 million in economic impact to the island and strengthening the Hawaiian Home Land Trust to create homesteading opportunities.”
Lorraine Rapozo, an Anahola homesteader and HCDC board member, said, “It’s a great opportunity for Native Hawaiians to fully participate in a project that puts our land to good use to benefit our homestead and the larger Kaua‘i community by helping KIUC to generate lower-cost renewable power. This project fits perfectly with the strategic plan of the Hawaiian Homes Commission to empower our homestead people and to fully engage in the larger goal of reducing Hawai‘i’s dependency on fossil fuel.”
KIUC has formed KIUC Renewable Solutions One, LLC, as a legal entity under which the license agreement for the Anahola site is being finalized, according to KIUC President and CEO David Bissell’s “President’s Report” delivered during its Board of Directors meeting in Hanapepe last week.
During the Oct. 25 meeting, Bissell said Hawaiian homelands needs an environmental assessment on the land, which is zoned agricultural, and an appraised rate for a long-term lease. A cultural impact assessment is underway, and the estimated completion time is nine months.
The co-op has put the project out for qualified bid, Bissell said, and is in the process of shortlisting the 11 bids it has received so far. The funding for the project will come from an already approved and granted loan for $68 million from the National Rural Utility Service.
“KIUC is extremely pleased with the opportunity to work together with (Department of Hawaiian Homelands), HCDC and Hawaiian homestead community in Anahola on this important renewable energy project that will provide significant benefits to the entire island of Kaua‘i,” Bissell said in the HCDC release.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement founded HCDC in 2009 to develop community and economic facilities and projects important to the homestead areas and the Native Hawaiian people, according to the release.
For more information or to provide comments on the Anahola Solar Project, contact Karen Palting, CNHA Community Initiatives manager at CNHA’s Kaua‘i office by calling 855-2108 or write to info@hawaiiancouncil.org to obtain a briefing sheet and consultation form.
• Vanessa Van Voorhis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or by emailing vvanvoorhis@thegardenisland.com.
