Renewable Energy Project Update

Ikehu Molokai News Release

Aloha to the Molokai community!  The Ikehu Molokai project is intended to convert Molokai to renewable energy, while lowering costs and stabilizing the electric grid.  We presented the project to many community groups last year and were pleased that so many Molokai people supported it. Our vision for the project has always tried to reflect the sentiments and values embraced and expressed by the residents for a healthy, sustainable, and energy independent island.

Over the past few months, the Ikehu Molokai team has been working on the design, engineering, and financing of the Ikehu Molokai project. Our recent progress includes the following highlights:

• The costs are coming in better than expected, meaning more rate relief for Molokai residents and businesses.
• We have moved the entire project to the industrial area near the MECo power plant.
• The Ikehu Molokai system will stabilize the electric grid, eliminating about ½ of the grid blackouts and improving the quality of the electric power (better for your TVs). It will also make the grid able to absorb more rooftop solar systems.
• We plan to offer a portion of the project as community solar, for people who don’t have rooftop systems.
• We have a commitment from an investor group to fund the project for construction in 2016.

We are excited to return to Molokai this month and present the project updates and get your feedback.  We believe that the current design integrates recommendations and concerns communicated to us in the past, as well as those expressed by the community at the MECo and NextEra meetings.

Community meetings are scheduled for the week of May 24.  The schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, May 26, 6 to 8 pm, Kilohana Community Center
• Wednesday, May 27, 6 to 8 pm, Maunaloa Community Center
• Thursday, May 28, 2 to 4 pm, and 6 to 8 pm, Kalanianaole Hall
• Friday, May 29, 11 am to 5 pm, Kalanianaole Hall, informal open house with the Ikehu Molokai planning team for questions and answers.

Everyone is welcome at all the meetings.  We are also available to set up individual or small group meetings during the week. Please check the Molokai Dispatch in the coming weeks, as additional meetings may be posted or the schedule may change.  For those who cannot attend a meeting, we plan to return during the summer months.

Should you have any comments or questions or would like to schedule a meeting with the Ikehu Molokai planning team, please contact Andrea Taber at ataber@princetonenergy.net. Mahalo and we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!