1. What is the Hawai‘i Interisland renewable Energy Program (HIREP)?
2. What are the components of HIREP Wind?
3. Why do we need an interisland cable?
6. Why not build the wind farms on O‘ahu?
7. Where will the undersea cable go?
8. How much will the interisland cable cost?
9. How will the state pay for it?
10. Why are we spending money on such an expensive project?
11. How long will it take to build?
12. Are there similar projects elsewhere?
13. Who will own the interisland cable?
14. Who will operate and maintain it?
1. What is the Hawai‘i Interisland Renewable Energy Program (HIREP)?
HIREP is a proposed renewable energy generation, transmission, and delivery program that works to realize the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative’s goal of achieving 70 percent clean energy by 2030 with 30 percent from efficiency measures and 40 percent coming from renewable energy sources. HIREP would produce renewable energy from sources such as wind turbine technology on one or more islands and share the electricity generated with other islands via undersea cable for subsequent transmission and distribution to consumers.
2. What are the components of HIREP Wind?
There are three primary components:
- An undersea cable system including converter/inverter station infrastructure,
- Wind farms on one or more islands in Maui County, and
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Utility infrastructure upgrades on the island of O‘ahu to receive and integrate wind energy into the electric grid.
3. Why do we need an interisland cable?
An interisland cable will allow electricity generated in Maui County, where wind resources are abundant, to be transmitted to O‘ahu where the demand for energy is high, but viable renewable energy resources and land are limited. The cable is vitally important to achieve the goal of 70 percent clean energy for Hawai‘i by the year 2030. It will enable at least 14 percent of the power we need to meet the 40 percent renewable energy goal, significantly cutting Hawai‘i's dependence on imported fuel.
4. Why wind?
Of the alternative renewable energy sources available - including wind, geothermal, solar, biomass, ocean thermal energy conversion, and wave - wind power has been identified as the most commercially available and economically viable option at the present time. The islands of Maui, Lāna‘i, and Moloka‘i have the most abundant and viable wind resources of the islands closest to O‘ahu. In the future, HIREP could be expanded to include other types of renewable technologies.
5. What's the difference between a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
The State of Hawai‘i, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, has decided to prepare a programmatic EIS for the HIREP-Wind. Program-level EIS documents are relatively common on the federal level, but somewhat unique in Hawai‘i. The PEIS is designed to provide agencies and the public an overview of the potential impacts and benefits in the development of HIREP. This PEIS does not grant any development rights or privileges to a specific wind farm project; rather, this PEIS will set a framework, identify broad areas of concern (both location and environment), and specify best management practices for the three major HIREP components. Project-specific EIS will conduct more focused environmental reviews using consistent guidelines specified by the PEIS.
6. Why not build the wind farms on O‘ahu?
There are concrete plans to build 100 megawatts (MW) of wind power on O‘ahu. The new 30-MW Kahuku wind farm on O‘ahu is being completed and its owner, First Wind, wants to build 70 MW more on O‘ahu.
However, O‘ahu does not have as favorable wind resources as do Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. Studies have identified the channel between Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i to have some of the most favorable wind zones within the State of Hawai‘i.
7. Where will the undersea cable go?
Several options for routes between O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Maui are being explored. The PEIS will examine different possible routes.
On Moloka‘i, preliminary landing sites that may be studied will be in the northeast and south-central portions of the island, near the possible wind farm sites. On Lāna‘i, the preliminary landing site that is expected to be studied will be in the northeast portion of the island. On O‘ahu, landing sites are being considered on the east side near the Mōkapu Peninsula and on the leeward side between Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Harbor. The PEIS will help determine the preferred landing sites.
8. How much will the interisland cable cost?
Costs will be based on the routes and technology chosen. Based on the cost of similar projects around the world, an early estimate is $800 million to $1 billion.
However, projected savings from not having to buy imported oil over a 20-year period is estimated to be approximately $5.7 billion.
9. How will the state pay for it?
The cable system will ultimately be financed by some combination of O‘ahu ratepayer charges, state tax revenues, and federal grants to pay for the cost of the cable. The state will be seeking additional federal funding and long-term loan guarantees to keep the total cost to Hawai‘i residents as low as possible.
10. Why are we spending money on such an expensive project?
Hawai‘i spends about 10 percent of its gross state product, three times more than the national average, to buy imported fuel. HIREP will enable much more of that money to remain in our local economy, covering the cost and more of the interisland cable.
11. How long will it take to build?
The first step is the completion of the Programmatic EIS (PEIS), which must be completed by April 30, 2012 due to the expiration of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funding. Project-specific EIS for the wind farms and the O‘ahu grid upgrades will then be conducted.
Construction on the actual cable system could start after the project-specific EIS and permits are completed. Construction and the laying of the cables can be done in approximately 24 months.
12. Are there similar projects elsewhere?
There are already nine undersea communications cables connecting the Hawaiian Islands. There are more than 20 undersea electrical transmission cables in operation around the world. There are several systems in Europe similar to the one proposed for Hawai‘i, as well as others in the Philippines, Japan, and the mainland U.S. The technology is well established, and several international companies are able to do the work.
13. Who will own the interisland cable?
The state is currently looking at numerous ownership possibilities or scenarios.
14. Who will operate and maintain it?
The state is examining various scenarios for operation and maintenance.
