Kauai utility on track to meet renewable energy goal
LIHUE >> Kauai’s electric utility produces 40 percent of its power through renewable sources and is on track to reach its goal of 50 percent by 2023.
The Garden Island reports the member-owned cooperative’s recent annual meeting covered past and current projects.
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative expects new solar arrays and a biomass energy project to help 2016 greenhouse gas emissions fall below 1990 levels.
A project under development could account for 15 percent of island energy.
Chief Financial Officer Karissa Jonas credited renewable energy and lower oil prices with $36 million in customer electricity savings in 2015 compared to the year before.
A planning official said the utility will update its benchmarks under the state’s goal for 100 percent renewable energy.
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The cooperative serves 33,000 Kauai customers.
7 responses to “Kauai utility on track to meet renewable energy goal”
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Two thumbs up for Kauai renewable movement.
It sounds as if they are managing the utility pretty well.
Agree!
Outstanding Kauai. Now, please provide your current residential kwh charge that we can evaluate rates at 40% renewables and by 2023 50%. Also, with a savings of some $36 million due to lower oil cost in 2015. Mahalo.
You don’t even want to know……..arguably the highest utility cost in America. Already was before it became a co-op and we paid way too much to the private owner to turn it into a co-op. The infrastructure upgrades to become renewable efficient have not been cheap either.
Don’t get me wrong , I’m all for 100% renewable , but it is no short term cheap project. Kinda rediculous really with all the waterfalls we have but in this day and age one simply can’t trap a waterfall unless God himself does it before an environmentalist catches on to what He is doing.
Next we actually up fill a mountain reservoir with solar power all day so it can run back downhill every nite to keep the grid powered………….ingenious really . But equal or less power than 1 waterfall.
One wonders how long before the regulations stop us from using a man made waterfall .
Total of 33,000 customers. Average household bills over $300.
Good luck with doing such for all the customers on Oahu.
Doesn’t Kauai’s cooperative charge more for their electricity than every other utility in Hawaii?
Shows what can happen when a utility is run for the public good and not for profit.
Maybe we should lay claim to public domain and take over HECO.