Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

P.O. Box 646, Anahola, Hawai`i 96703 ● 808.855.2105

Utility Coop and Hawaiians Enter into Agreement on Solar Project

• FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
• May 18, 2012
• Download a PDF of this release

Anahola, Kauai – The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) and the nonprofit Homestead Community Development Corporation (HCDC) executed a homestead benefits agreement memorializing the partnership struck to build Hawaii’s largest utility scale solar project on 53 acres of Hawaiian Home Lands. Located on Kauai’s east side, the Anahola Solar project is anticipated to produce 12 megawatt replacing significant oil generated energy for the cooperative.

“This is a historic agreement on a renewable energy project that partners the local utility, Hawaiians and our land trust,” said Aunty Lorraine Rapozo, the President of the Anahola Hawaiian Homes Association, and an HCDC board member. “This is the first time that our local homestead leaders were at the table to bring a significant renewable energy project to our lands – something that will benefit all of Kauai too. We mahalo former DHHL Director Alapaki Nahale-a for his support and belief in our ability to work together.”

Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian, KIUC chairman of the board, and David Bissell, KIUC CEO, welcomed Aunty Lorraine Rapozo and Robin Danner, HCDC Board President, to execute the final agreement in the KIUC board room in Lihue. The work the parties agreed on includes but is not limited to the formation of a solar project advisory committee for the life of the 25 year project, annual lectures at the local public charter school on renewable energy technologies and financing, local hire and local subcontracting outreach, market value land revenues to the Hawaiian Home Land Trust to promote its mission of homesteading and economic development, and annual payments to the Anahola homestead fund to support cultural, educational and other community based programs.

“KIUC is committed to achieving its goal of generating 50 percent of Kaua’i’s energy needs from renewable sources like solar by 2023,” Tacbian said. “This is a substantial step toward that goal and also a great partnership that provides educational and economic benefits to the Hawaiian community.”

Hawaiian Home Lands, where the project is located, is held in trust by the state of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) with oversight by the federal Department of Interior. The land trust was created by the U.S. Congress in 1920, through enactment of the Hawaii an Homes Commission Act (HHCA) to provide homesteading and mercantile lands to Native Hawaiians.

For more information about the Anahola Solar Project, contact HCDC at (808) 855-2105 or [email protected].

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