First Wind announces start of commercial operations for its Oahu-based Kawailoa Wind project

News Release from First Wind Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012

First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced that construction of its Kawailoa Wind project has been completed and commercial operations have begun. Located on Kamehameha Schools’ Kawailoa Plantation lands on Oahu’s North Shore, the 69 megawatt (MW) wind project will be able to generate enough clean and cost-competitive wind energy to power the equivalent of approximately 14,500 homes on the island. At full output, it has the potential to meet as much as five to ten percent of Oahu’s annual electrical demand and avoid the burning of about 300,000 barrels of oil each year.

“Wind power is an important clean energy resource for Hawaii and one of the keys to breaking our dependence on imported oil. Kawailoa Wind will provide the people of Oahu with clean, locally-produced energy for decades to come”

“This is, by far, the single largest wind energy project in Hawaii's history,” said Lt Governor Brian Schatz. “We should all be pleased and proud that we are making good progress towards more affordable, sustainable energy. We've got more work to do, but this is an important moment in our efforts towards a clean energy future.”

The Kawailoa project is First Wind’s second project on Oahu and fourth in the Hawaiian islands.

“We are proud to complete work on our Kawailoa Wind project, which represents our fourth project in Hawaii to achieve commercial operations over a six-year period,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “Hawaii has shown true leadership in its aggressive clean energy goals and First Wind has strived to support this vision by developing new sources of cost-competitive renewable energy. Now with our Kawailoa project online, First Wind’s combined projects on Oahu and Maui have the capacity to generate enough clean energy to serve over 40,000 businesses and homes in local communities throughout Hawaii.”

Late last year, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved a power purchase agreement between First Wind and the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), which serves more than 400,000 Hawaii customers.

Hawaii state law mandates 70 percent clean energy for electricity and surface transportation by 2030, with 40 percent coming from local renewable sources. Kawailoa Wind will significantly advance the state’s progress toward these goals.

“Wind power is an important clean energy resource for Hawaii and one of the keys to breaking our dependence on imported oil. Kawailoa Wind will provide the people of Oahu with clean, locally-produced energy for decades to come,” said Dick Rosenblum, Hawaiian Electric Company president and CEO.

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