New 69 megawatt windfarm under construction in Hawaii

Wind farm in Hawaii breaks ground

february 26, 2012, evwind.es

First Wind began construction on the 69 MW Kawailoa Wind energy project in Hawaii, expected to be one of the biggest wind power projects in Hawaii with 30 Siemens wind turbines.

The wind farm will use 30, 2.3 MW Siemens wind turbines. The Hawaiian Electric Co. signed a power purchase agreement for the output from the plant in December 2011.

First Wind owns and operates two other wind power projects in Hawaii, including the 30 MW Kahuku Wind energy project on Oahu that went online in March 2011, and is currently building two wind power projects on Maui.

-First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today celebrated the start of construction of its 69-megawatt (MW) Kawailoa Wind project on Kamehameha Schools’ Kawailoa Plantation lands on Oahu’s North Shore. Once complete, Kawailoa Wind will be the largest wind energy facility in Hawaii. The site’s thirty 2.3 MW Siemens wind turbines will have the capacity to generate enough clean, renewable wind energy to power the equivalent of approximately 14,500 homes on the island, or as much as five percent of Oahu’s annual electrical demand.

“This groundbreaking for Kawailoa Wind is an historic occasion for Hawaii because, as the largest wind project ever in the state, it will harness enough clean, sustainable energy to provide power for thousands of families on Oahu”

During a groundbreaking ceremony on the project site, First Wind officials were joined by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, State Senator Mike Gabbard and Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle, along with several other state and local leaders, who shared comments on the project’s significance.

“This groundbreaking for Kawailoa Wind is an historic occasion for Hawaii because, as the largest wind project ever in the state, it will harness enough clean, sustainable energy to provide power for thousands of families on Oahu,” said Senator Akaka. “Renewable electricity production makes our islands more energy self-sufficient, environmentally sustainable, and secure, which is critically important now and for future generations.”

Lt. Gov. Schatz added, “This is the largest wind farm in Hawai'i’s history, and it shows the progress we are making toward our clean energy goals. This is a great day for Hawai'i. We've moved from talking about renewable energy to actually doing it.”

“Clean energy projects are a priority for the City and County of Honolulu because they are a priority for our future,” said Mayor Carlisle. “When completed, the Kawailoa Wind project will be able to produce clean, renewable energy to power more than 14,500 Oahu homes. Projects like this will benefit and position our city for the future.”

In December 2011, 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.

“This project will be an important part of Hawaii’s diverse portfolio of renewable energy resources. As the largest wind farm in Hawaii, Kawailoa represents a significant step toward reducing the impact of imported oil on our customers,” said Dick Rosenblum, Hawaiian Electric Company president and CEO.

Working in concert with the Kamehameha Schools (KS) as part of their North Shore Plan, Kawailoa Wind reflects a genuine collaboration with the community. First Wind has been in discussions about the project with North Shore residents and community organizations for the past two years, while KS began community consultation in 2006, starting with area kûpuna (Hawaiian elders) to guide the process. First Wind also worked with federal, state, and county agencies to obtain the necessary permits.

“The Kawailoa Wind project is an integral part of our North Shore Plan and represents the continued commitment of Kamehameha Schools, through the support of the North Shore community, to positioning Kawailoa Plantation as an important provider of sustainable food and energy for the State of Hawaii,” said Giorgio Caldarone, Regional Asset Manager and Renewable Energy Sector Lead, Kamehameha Schools. “This project will not only help the State meet its renewable energy goals, but it will also help preserve and support continued agricultural production for future generations. Kamehameha Schools is committed to sustainability and to investing in projects today that will create positive outcomes for future generations. Mahalo to the North Shore community and to everyone else who helped to make this vision a reality.”

First Wind’s CEO, Paul Gaynor, also spoke at the event.

“We are pleased to begin construction on our fourth project in Hawaii, and the largest wind energy facility in the state. When it comes to renewable energy, Hawaii has proven to be a national leader, innovator and an excellent partner,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “Powering up to 14,500 Oahu homes with one project allows us to continue our leadership in the state’s ambitious clean energy plans. Our continued success is also a testament to all of our partners and supporters, including the North Shore residents, our PPA partners at HECO and our contractors such as RMT.”

As with other projects on Maui and Oahu, First Wind developed a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for Kawailoa Wind, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources. The HCP is a wildlife conservation effort that includes research funding and actions to protect and minimize incidental harm to federally listed species in the vicinity of the wind energy project.

First Wind owns and operates two other wind energy projects in Hawaii, and is currently building another project on Maui. Kahuku Wind, also located on Oahu’s North Shore, is a 30 MW wind project that has the capacity to generate enough energy to the power the equivalent of 7,700 Oahu homes. The Kahuku project went online in March of 2011. Beginning commercial operations in 2006, the 30 MW Kaheawa Wind project is above Ma‘alaea. First Wind is currently building a second Maui project, Kaheawa Wind Power II that will consist of 14 wind turbines, capable of generating 21 MW of energy. Once Kaheawa Wind II is complete, the two Kaheawa projects will have a capacity of 51 MW.

Beyond the affordable clean energy they produce, First Wind’s projects in Hawaii have been significant economic drivers. RMT Inc., which also handled construction for First Wind’s Kahuku Wind project on Oahu and is currently building Kaheawa Wind II on Maui, will lead construction efforts for Kawailoa Wind. Collectively, ongoing work at Kaheawa Wind II and the work done at Kahuku Wind have driven nearly 200,000 on-site labor hours during construction, and more than 50 Hawaii businesses have been included in the development and construction supply chains for the two projects.


www.firstwind.com


Ten Commandments of Native Peoples

Wind Energy Stocks for 2011, Company Website Links

Publicly-listed Windpower Companies and Suppliers

AAER Wind Energy (TSX-V) Canadian windpower stock

Acciona Windpower (ANA.MC)

AeroVironment (AVAV) rooftop wind energy systems

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) wind and solar power convertors and superconductors

America's Wind Energy Corporation (OTC: AWNE)

A-Power Energy Generation Systems (APWR), formerly China Energy Tech

Babcock & Brown Wind Partners (ASX: BBW BBWPF.PK)

Boralex Wind Power (TSE: BLX) wind farm operator

Broadwind Energy Corp Official Company website (BWEN.OB)

China High Speed Transmission Equipment Group Co., (CHSTF) Ltd.

Cleanfield Energy Corp (TSX:AIR)

Clipper Windpower (CWPR.L) wind turbine manufacturer

Dakshidin Wind (DKSC) - RESTEC water pumping windmills

Duke Energy Corporation windpower and natural gas

EDF Energies Nouvelle (EEN.PA) english website

EDP Renovaveis (EDPR.LB) - Brazil and Iberia clean renewable energy producer

First Wind Energy (WNDY) company website, 2008 windpower IPO

Gamesa Corp (GAM.MC) wind company website in english

GE Power Wind Energy website

Greentech, Denmark-based windpower development company

Hansen Transmissions International NV (HSN) wind turbine gearbox manufacturer

Iberdola Renovables official company website in english

Itron.com (NASD: ITRI) Energy and Water Resource Management

Juhl Wind Inc. (JUHL.OB) - Community windpower leader

Kaydon Corp (KDN) - Leading manufacturer of bearings for wind turbines

Maxwell Technologies (MXWL) wind turbine ultracapacitors

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHVYF)

Nacel Energy (NCEN.OB) USA, Caribbean and Latin America wind power

Naikun Wind Energy (NKW) Canada-based wind power and natural gas

NextEraEnergy (NYSE: NEE) - Clean energy division of Florida Light and Power

Nordex Group (eiNDX1) - German Wind Energy Company

Novera Energy PLC (LSE:NVE) - UK wind power producer

Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) wind tower manufacturer

Plambeck Holding (eiPNE3) - German Wind Energy Park and Biogas Plant Owner / Manager

REPower Systems AG (RPW.DE), German wind turbine manufacturer

SkyPower Wind Energy Fund

SkyPower.com - Canadian wind energy company

Suzlon Energy (SUZL) windpower company

Theolia (eQ18481) - France-based Windpower and Biogas power plant developer

TransAlta Corporation (TSX: T.TA) - This is the company that took over KHD, Canadian Hydro

Trinity Industries (TRN) wind energy tower manufacturer

Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF)#1 windpower company

Welwind Energy Intl (WWEI.OB) developer of wind farms in China

Western Wind Energy (WND: TSX.V)

Wind Energy America (OTC:WNEA) USA wind farm developer

Windflow Technology Ltd (NZAX:WTL), New Zealand wind turbine designer / manufacturer

Xcel Energy Inc (XEL) diversified USA power producer, wind farm developer

Xinjiang Goldwind Sci & Tech Co - China wind turbine manufacturer, official company website

Zoltek Cos (ZOLT) - Carbon Fiber Manufacturer, Aerospace Composites stock



Green Energy Investing links:

Best Green Stocks website

Green Mutual Funds blog

Geothermal Power Stocks

Photovoltaic Solar Stocks

Canadian Wind Energy Atlas

China's rare earth metals crucial to efficient windpower

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) recently predicted that the world’s wind power capacity will increase by 160 percent in the next five years, and adding this additional 250.5 GW of wind energy will require 167,000 tonnes of rare earth metals.

It is estimated that over 90% of the world's rare earth metals are exported from China, and these are crucial to the new generation of ultra-efficient windpower turbines. As China itself plans to construct another 130+ Gigawatts of wind capacity over the next decade, how long are these rare earth minerals and metals going to be available for export?

Neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium are all rare earth metals whose pricing and availability globally could be affected by internal Chinese demand.