EPA fines Kapolei coal plant nearly $200K for Clean Air Act violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that AES Hawaii LLC has agreed to a settlement including a civil penalty of $199,725 for violations of federal acts at its coal-fired plant in Kapolei.

The EPA said that a January 2020 inspection of the facility found that AES Hawaii was in violation of the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program as well as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know act.

Many of the violations were associated with insufficient documentation, reporting, and proper labeling of the plant’s anhydrous ammonia system, officials said.

Officials said the inspection also found “failures associated with process hazard analysis and physical distance safeguards, and problems with corroded piping and equipment.” Staff were inadequately trained, and employees were not provided with written emergency shutdown procedures.

“Companies must take actions such as replacing corroded pipes and training staff on emergency shutdown procedures to reduce the risk of releases of hazardous substance to nearby communities and the environment,” said Amy Miller, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Director of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, in a news release. “Facilities that do not comply with chemical accident prevention requirements will face significant fines.”

EPA officials said AES Hawaii has addressed the violations at the facility in addition to paying the penalty.

The AES Corporation, in statements, said it takes safety and environmental compliance seriously, and that it has worked closely with the EPA and resolved all action items related to the alleged deficiencies.

“The AES plant at Barbers Point has been operated and maintained with the highest standards for nearly three decades and has provided safe, reliable, and affordable electricity that meets up to 20% of the island’s electricity needs,” said Sandra Larsen, AES Hawaii Market Business leader, in a statement. “AES’ purpose is to accelerate the future of energy, together – with our customers, communities and stakeholders. We are helping Hawaii responsibly transition to a carbon-free energy future with a pipeline of renewable projects across the islands, totaling almost 400 MW of solar, solar plus storage, and wind resources either in operation and under development.”

AES Hawaii’s 180-megawatt coal plant at Campbell Industrial Park, which provides about 20% of Oahu’s electricity needs, is scheduled to retire in October 2022, as required by Hawaii law.