Isle wind farm contractor has filed for bankruptcy

A Texas-based energy storage company that provided battery systems involved in a 2012 fire at a Kahuku wind farm has filed for bankruptcy.

Xtreme Power, founded in 2006 and based in Kyle, Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas. Company officials said the bankruptcy filing will allow Xtreme Power to continue operations as it tries to find a buyer.

Xtreme Power’s core engineering, project development and operations staff will remain in place during the process, according to a news release from the company.

"I have no doubt new owners will find Xtreme Power an attractive acquisition, particularly given that we will be free and clear of liabilities," CEO Alan Gotcher said in a news release.

Xtreme Power was contracted to provide battery systems at First Wind LLC’s Kahuku wind energy project on Oahu and First Wind’s Kahe­awa wind energy project on Maui. Xtreme Power’s batteries also were installed at the Kauai Island Utility’s Koloa solar energy project and Castle & Cooke’s La Ola solar energy project on Lanai.

The Kahuku battery was destroyed by a fire in August 2012. First Wind replaced the destroyed battery system with a "dynamic volt-amp reactive" device that uses a different type of technology to regulate power fluctuations associated with wind power.

First Wind restarted the 30-megawatt Kahuku wind farm last August, initially limiting its output to five megawatts during a testing phase. The output was gradually ramped up over the next few months, and the facility is now nearing full capacity, a company spokes­woman said Monday. At full output the facility produces enough energy to serve about 7,700 homes.