Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Lihue, Kauai. Making great strides in renewable energy
In October KIUC announced its new adventure toward the goal of 50% power independency by 2023. This is a huge investment with cooperation from Grove Farm Co. of Lihue whereby KIUC will be leasing 67 acres of Grove Farms property in Koloa to make it happen.
This new 12 megawatt, $40 Million facility will be able to generate about 6% of Kauai’s daily energy needs. That doesn’t sound like much to the normal person. BUT, this is the third project of its kind on Kauai in progress to develop renewable utility scale energy and is one of the largest in the state. The three projects combined; one in Anahola comprised of 12 megawatts, and the other at Port Allen with its 6 megawatts, when complete, will generate 30 megawatts during the day which is 50% of Kauai’s daytime electrical demand. That’s HUGE!! We hit the mark Kauai, and early!
KIUC, by percentage of solar PV systems to join its system, will be the largest in the USA! That is quite impressive for our tiny island and no doubt newsworthy. Let’s show ‘em how it’s done Kaua’i!
Locals can expect the project to be done and working in our favor by the end of 2014. Expectations are that the customers’ utility bills will be lower and be more stable. The creation of local jobs and reducing greenhouse emissions isn’t bad either.
Remember, KIUC is a cooperative which means its members are its owners. That means You! If you want to save the world from global warming, or just save some money on your electric bill, you just did it. And I thank you.
