Wind Powers Maui to Energy Savings

Kaheawa Wind Power, located on the slopes above Ma'alaea, generated enough energy to power 11,000 Maui homes last year. UPC Wind, a co-owner of the facility, said more than 125,000 mega-watt hours of electricity was generated during 2007, its first full year in operation. This is about 10% of Maui's total energy usage. The project consists of 20 General Electric 1.5 megawatt wind turbines installed along a ridgeline above Ma'alaea. The trade winds funnel through this area almost constantly making it an ideal place to generate wind power.

Here's a few interesting facts listed by Kaheawa Wind Power about their first full year of operation:

Generating an equivalent amount of electric energy from a traditional fossil fuel burning facility would have required over 236,000 barrels of oil. The Maui Electric Company imports more than 1.6 million barrels of petroleum-based fuels every year.

In 2007, this renewable source of energy generation avoided the release of over 91,000 tons of CO2. The amount of CO2 avoided is equivalent to the emissions of nearly 16,000 cars or more than 11,400 SUVs.

In addition to the clean energy produced by Kaheawa Wind Power and associated environmental benefits, the wind farm has played a major role in stabilizing and reducing the cost of energy on Maui.

Since it achieved commercial operations, the project has sold all of its output to Maui Electric Company at rates that will save the utility over $4 million annually as compared to current avoided cost contracts.

UPC Wind has proposed expanding the wind farm by adding another 21 turbines, more than doubling it's capacity. However, Maui Electric Company has selected another project proposed by Shell Wind, which would be located on the East side of the island.

Kaheawa Wind Power's Website

Photo Credit: Kaheawa Wind Power