Hydroelectric energy will power Big Island farm

(Pacific Business News)  Hamakua Springs Country Farms plans to use the streams along the Hamakua Coast to generate electricity as early as next year and has hired a system developer to move the process forward.

The idea has been in the works since last year, and Richard Ha, president of Hamakua Springs, said development of the hydropower system is likely to begin in 2012. The farm has received the proper permits, he said, but the cost and design analysis has not yet begun. He expects the evaluation and building process to take about seven months to a year.

Ha declined to disclose the developer’s name.

The hydropower system would utilize a turbine powered by stream water to produce electricity for farm production. It would enable the farm to reduce its electricity costs and redeploy that savings into fish farming, with the goal of eventually being completely off the electrical grid, Ha said.

The farm also will utilize waste from vegetable production for fish food.

Ha, who manages the 600-acre farm, has been in the business for over three decades. Hamakua Springs Country Farms started as a banana farm in Keaau and moved to its current site north of Hilo in 2004.

The farm also has begun leasing land to other farmers, who help to diversify crop production. The goal of such partnerships is increasing food security on the Big Island and the state, Ha said. He said that by working with other Big Island farmers he is able to grow taro, corn, ginger and other crops on the farm.

“It is our obligation as a farm to feed as many as possible close to where we live,” he said.

Ha also plans to group Hamakua Springs produce shipments and deliveries with other farmers to save on fuel costs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“We know the oil prices are just going to keep on rising,” he said. “If we have delivery trucks going we might as well pick up produce along the way.”

Ha is chairman of Kuokoa Inc., a hui formed to increase sources of renewable energy in Hawaii. Kuokoa announced in January of this year its intent to buy out Hawaiian Electric Industries.