Hawaii looks to wind energy
A utility company on the Hawaiian island of Oahu approved a purchase agreement for renewable energy from a wind project on the island’s north shore.
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission announced a power purchase agreement between Kahuku Wind Power and Hawaiian Electric Co. for energy from a 30 megawatt wind energy project slated for Oahu.
Kahuku Wind Power will sell energy to Hawaiian Electric available from the wind farm at a predetermined and unspecified price for 20 years.
“With long-term pricing de-linked from the cost of oil, this new source of renewable energy is a step toward breaking our vulnerability to the fluctuating price of oil and increasing our energy security,” said Hawaiian Electric President and Chief Executive Officer Dick Rosenblum.
The wind energy project slated for Oahu will consist of a dozen 2.5 MW wind turbines. It will have the capacity to provide the energy needs for more than 7,000 residents, cutting oil consumption by 153,000 barrels per year.
Oahu has the largest population of the Hawaiian Islands, but has few natural resources of its own.
(Source: UPI)
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