Hawaiian Electrical not too long ago introduced that contracts have been awarded to Hoʻāhu Power Cooperative Molokai to construct a group photo voltaic plus storage undertaking. It’s going to meet greater than 20% of Molokai’s power wants serving almost 1500 households—together with renters, homesteaders and different residents who will not be transitioning to renewables. The community-owned photo voltaic undertaking is anticipated to extend the island’s power independence and save residents cash on their utility payments.
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Hawai’i’s first two community-owned and designed photo voltaic tasks coming to Molokai
Subsequent step – proposals to be submitted to the Public Utilities Fee
MOLOKAI, Jan. 12, 2023 – Hawaiian Electrical and Ho’āhu Power Cooperative Molokai is shifting ahead with the primary two community-owned and designed photo voltaic plus battery tasks within the state. These tasks will meet over 20% of Molokai’s power wants and serve roughly 1,500 houses on the island. The Ho’āhu Group-Based mostly Renewable Power Tasks, Pālā’au Photo voltaic and Kualapu’u Photo voltaic, are the primary on the island to supply a shared photo voltaic program (also referred to as community-based renewable power or CBRE) to assist decrease the electrical energy payments for Molokai prospects who can’t set up non-public rooftop photo voltaic.
After finishing a aggressive bidding analysis course of, which accounted for the price of the tasks in addition to non-price components together with group outreach, Ho’āhu and Hawaiian Electrical entered into negotiations. As soon as the 20-year contracts are negotiated, Hawaiian Electrical and Ho’āhu will submit two functions for approval to the Public Utilities Fee.
Hoʻāhu Power Cooperative Molokai is a volunteer, grassroots nonprofit group shaped in 2020 by Molokai group advocates to allow island residents to design and personal renewable power tasks constructed on Molokai.
Dedicated to power democracy, Hoʻāhu has spent three years internet hosting greater than 40 public workshops for Molokai residents to co-design group photo voltaic tasks, from web site discovering and subscriber profit design to contractor interviews and evaluation of assorted battery power storage techniques.
Pālā’au Photo voltaic can present as much as 2.2 megawatts of photo voltaic power paired with a ten.1 megawatt-hour battery power storage system. The undertaking shall be positioned on property owned by Hawaiian Electrical, adjoining to the corporate’s Pālā’au Baseyard.
Kualapu’u Photo voltaic can present as much as 0.250 MW paired with a 1 MWh battery. The undertaking shall be positioned on the Kualapu’u Park and Group Heart with the undertaking’s photo voltaic array mounted on carport buildings above the prevailing parking zone.
“These two tasks are the correct factor to do for Hawai’i and our planet,” mentioned Todd Yamashita, the president of Hoʻāhu. “This may present entry to renewables for many who want it most. Renters on Molokai are helpless and can’t set up photo voltaic panels. The photo voltaic group is saying, ‘Allow us to construct one photo voltaic farm for you within the discipline, and the power we produce and the revenue we make shall be credited on to your invoice and the payments of different members of the power cooperative.'”
After the Ho’āhu tasks are accredited and accessible on Hawaiian Electrical’s CBRE Portal, Molokai prospects will change into “subscribers” to one of many amenities. As soon as the tasks are constructed and on-line, subscribers will obtain a credit score on their month-to-month electrical energy invoice primarily based on their stage of participation.
“We stay up for working additional with Ho’āhu Power Cooperative Molokai and their companions to convey these community-based shared photo voltaic tasks on-line,” mentioned Rebecca Dayhuff Matsushima, vp of useful resource procurement for Hawaiian Electrical. . “Each tasks will assist our Molokai prospects decrease their power payments and additional cut back our carbon footprint in producing energy to fulfill the island’s power wants.”
In November 2021, the request for proposals opened for builders, corporations, organizations or teams to change into “subscriber organizations” of shared photo voltaic tasks for Molokai prospects. The 2 Molokai shared photo voltaic tasks are anticipated to be on-line by mid-2025.
“When Act 100 was handed in 2015 the intention was to make sure that the advantages of renewable power era turned extra accessible to extra residents who couldn’t immediately take part in renewable power manufacturing. The CBRE program made that and I am proud that my Molokai group has the chance to take part by way of the Hoʻāhu Power Cooperative,” mentioned Sen. Lynn DeCoite. “These tasks are promising steps in the direction of our renewable power future on the pleasant island.”
Hoʻāhu enlisted the assist of Shake Power Collaborative, a Honolulu-based, women-owned public profit company, to facilitate the design and improvement of community-led tasks. Hoʻāhu additionally chosen Maui-based profit company Mana Pacific to assist the technical improvement of the tasks. Many contractors and companions additionally contributed to the cooperative’s success together with Kohala Heart, Morikawa and Associates, Vibrant Future Consulting, Orrick, X Utility, and Arizona State College.
Hoʻāhu’s group possession is made potential by way of the assist of mission-aligned funding companions together with The Individuals’s Photo voltaic Power Fund, Hawaii Inexperienced Infrastructure Authority, Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Ulupono Initiative, all of which offered funds or letters of intent. within the undertaking.
For extra details about Ho’āhu tasks, go to hoahuenergy.coop/cbre. For extra info on Hawaiian Electrical’s shared photo voltaic program, go to hawaiianelectric.com/sharedsolar and communityenergyhawaii.com.
Hoʻāhu would additionally prefer to thank the Sierra Membership of Hawaiʻi, Earthjustice, Rep. Mahina Poe, United States Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Councilwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Senator Lynn DeCoite, Molokai Clear Power Hui, Sustainable Molokai, Aina Momona, and Lifetime of the Land.
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Media Contacts
Molokai Power Cooperative: Roxanna Smith 510.326.0390
roxanna@storyandreach.com
Hawaiian Electrical: Shayna Decker 808.446.1184
shayna.decker@hawaiianelectric.com
