Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

jpak

(41,742 posts)
Sat Feb 25, 2012, 03:35 PM Feb 2012

State's Largest Wind Power Project Breaks Ground (Hawaii)

http://www.kitv.com/r/30539356/detail.html

<snip>

Wind energy company First Wind broke ground Friday, for the state's largest wind project so far.

The company will build 30 wind turbines in the hills above Kawailoa, across from the popular surf spot Chun's Reef.

The new Kawailoa Wind farm is First Wind's fourth project in Hawaii.

It will produce 69 megawatts and generate enough electricity to power more than 14,500 Oahu homes, said Paul Gaynor, First Wind's CEO.

Read more: http://www.kitv.com/news/30539356/detail.html#ixzz1nQLfKuNH
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
State's Largest Wind Power Project Breaks Ground (Hawaii) (Original Post) jpak Feb 2012 OP
Good news KnR FogerRox Feb 2012 #1
First Wind . . . Broke Ground . . . Let's see, I should be able to do something with that . . . NBachers Feb 2012 #2
Pissing in the wind. ellisonz Feb 2012 #3
Michigan Renewables Cheaper than Coal: Another State Success Story kristopher Feb 2012 #4
Michigan isn't an island in the middle of the Pacific. n/t ellisonz Feb 2012 #5
The resources in Hawaii are better than MI. nt kristopher Feb 2012 #6
Not really. ellisonz Feb 2012 #7

FogerRox

(13,211 posts)
1. Good news KnR
Sat Feb 25, 2012, 05:15 PM
Feb 2012

I want to see more thinking like the Atlantic Wind COnnection, a 350 long HVDC trunk line from NJ to Virginia to support 1750 4Mw trubines 15-20 miles offshore. 7 gigs

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
3. Pissing in the wind.
Mon Feb 27, 2012, 10:11 PM
Feb 2012

No matter how much we cave to Big Wind it won't reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, bring down overall energy costs, or address the real issue which is increasing demand. We need to focus on demand, and no supply. At least this is hardly virgin land...but it's really not the answer to our problem.

God help us if they turn Molokai and Lanai into batteries for Oahu.

kristopher

(29,798 posts)
4. Michigan Renewables Cheaper than Coal: Another State Success Story
Mon Feb 27, 2012, 10:38 PM
Feb 2012

I'm fairly sure this disproves your rant:

Michigan Renewables Cheaper than Coal: Another State Success Story

...Michigan's 2008 renewable portfolio standard (RPS) law required the state commission to report on how the law was working in practice. The February 15, 2012 report was a report card on the remarkable success of that state's RPS law. It stands in marked contrast to many of the critics of state renewable laws like Grover Norquist who don't get their facts straight and claim that these laws raise rates, force ratepayers to buy more expensive renewable power, and don't create any economic benefits.

...

First, they said the law has generated over $100 million in investments in the state, spurred manufacturing, and created jobs.

Second, the law has led to more than 100 megawatts of new renewable capacity in the state, putting it on track to meet its 10% requirement. So the law is working.

Third, and this might be the most dramatic point made by the Commission, the cost of these new renewable projects -- including, wind, solar and hydro -- is less than the cost of a new coal plant.

That deserves to be repeated. In contrast to ...




Relevant section starts on page 22
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/implementation_PA295_renewable_energy2-15-2012_376924_7.pdf

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
7. Not really.
Wed Feb 29, 2012, 05:49 AM
Feb 2012

We're in a position where trading off land for wind farms reduces its use-value to tourism. This is a small potato compared to what they have planned for Lanai and Molokai:

January 12, 2011 • Hawaii
Groups fear damage to land by Lanai, Molokai wind farms

Credit: By Alan Yonan Jr., Honolulu Star Advertiser, www.staradvertiser.com 12 January 2011 ~~

The damage that proposed wind farms on Lanai and Molokai could do to the islands’ natural beauty and cultural sites outweighs the benefits they might have by helping the state reach energy self-sufficiency.

That was the message from several community groups that testified at a legislative hearing yesterday.

The projects, which would deliver a combined 400 megawatts of electricity to Oahu via undersea cables, are a major component of the state’s plan to generate 40 percent of Hawaii’s energy from renewable sources by 2030. The plan calls for the state to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by another 30 percent through increased energy efficiency.

“I support clean energy, but I do not support the current plan, which calls for this mammoth abuse of our treasured aina,” said Martha Evans, a member of Friends of Lanai.

More: http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/12/groups-fear-damage-to-land-by-lanai-molokai-wind-farms/


This plan will never happen. Hawaii is better served through converting old sugar fields to biofuel production, increasing efficiency through solar on homes, and building/improving mass transit. Our land is more valuable than any cost to energy that a massive wind project like those proposed could provide. This is a get rich quick scheme for Big Wind. You can't just apply the same model to all places. Hawaii is a radically different place than Michigan.
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»State's Largest Wind Powe...