Column: Kawailoa Wind will protect hoary bats

Hawaii has set a forward-thinking goal of obtaining 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2045. A mix of renewable generation sources will be necessary to achieve this ambitious goal while maintaining a stable supply of electricity for Hawaii residents.

While Hawaii has been at the vanguard of the shift toward renewables, it has also had to be at the forefront of managing the challenges associated with this goal, including learning how to properly mitigate the environmental impacts of renewable energy development.

As the largest wind farm in Hawaii, Kawailoa Wind has taken a lead in the effort to address many of these challenges. In light of a higher-than-expected number of Hawaiian hoary bat fatalities, Kawailoa Wind has applied for an amendment to its incidental take permit for bats. An Oct. 26 “Off the News” editorial item suggested that the state should approve the amendment only if the “pros far outweigh the cons” (“Wind turbines dangerous to hoary bats,” Star-Advertiser).

We believe that they do.

Kawailoa Wind has worked to protect the Hawaiian hoary bat population through scientific research and habitat preservation as part of its Habitat Conservation Plan. The fact that so little is known about this species is one of the biggest challenges to Hawaiian hoary bat conservation. Kawailoa Wind has invested more than $1.6 million in research to better understand the species and prospective measures to protect it. We are proud to be one of the largest funding sources for research on the species.

Kawailoa Wind has also forged partnerships with state and federal agencies and conservation organizations to restore bat habitat at Ukoa Wetland on the North Shore of Oahu and to purchase and protect the 2,900-acre Helemano Wilderness Area in Central Oahu. Kawailoa Wind’s $2.75 million contribution to the Helemano Wilderness Area acquisition will permanently protect bat habitat from development, a contribution that will extend far beyond the lifespan of the wind farm.

In addition to conservation through research and habitat protection, Kawailoa Wind has also endeavored to reduce bat fatalities through operational adjustments. Current science suggests that bats are most active when wind speeds are low at night. Accordingly, Kawailoa Wind is curtailing (i.e., or shutting off) turbines when wind speeds fall below a certain level at night.

Kawailoa Wind is also exploring the use of an innovative deterrent technology to reduce bat fatalities. These deterrents discourage bats from entering the airspace surrounding the spinning blades by producing a sound inaudible to humans that is in the same range as bat’s natural calling frequencies. This technology showed significant promise in earlier tests on the mainland, and we are hopeful it will have similar benefits in Hawaii.

Hawaiian hoary bat fatalities are an unintended consequence of Hawaii’s ambitious efforts to combat climate change and reduce dependency on imported fuel sources. However, Kawailoa Wind has worked to contribute to the conservation and protection of the species and reduce bat fatalities, while also contributing to Hawaii’s renewable energy goals. We believe that the “pros” offered by Kawailoa Wind far outweigh the “cons” for both bats and the Hawaii residents and businesses.

Brita Woeck is environmental compliance manager for Kawailoa Wind, LLC.