|
Below are some basic answers to frequently asked questions and concerns about wind energy. However, we encourage you to seek out as much information from quality sources as you can. Of course, if you have any additional questions you can always contact us directly.
How green is wind power?
Does wind power require back-up by fossil fuel generation on the energy grid?
What does wind power cost?
How does wind power affect birds and bats?
A: Generating wind power produces no pollution and no by-products. Furthermore it uses no natural resources, such as water, in the production of energy, whereas fossil fuels and nuclear use water for both creating steam to turn turbines and for cooling, in addition to consuming non-renewable consuming mineral deposits. By offsetting the need for fossil-fueled generation, wind power reduces the amount of emissions created by traditional energy sources.
A: Wind is an "as-available" resource, which means that it can only generate energy when it is windy. When the wind dies down, power is generated by traditional methods, which on Maui means using burning coal, oil, or bagasse. Kaheawa Wind is committed to ensuring the stability of Maui's electrical grid, and has dedicated significant resources to working with MECO on the best methods to integrate wind energy into the Maui electrical grid. Kaheawa Wind is actively researching cutting edge technologies related to energy storage and forecasting so that Maui residents always benefit from the most advanced technologies available to ensure electric power from wind.
A: Seventy percent of the power Kaheawa Wind sells to MECO is sold at a fixed price of 8 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) with an inflationary adjustment of 1.5 percent. Thirty percent of the power is sold to MECO at avoided costs, which is what it would cost MECO to generate the power if it had to do so itself. Avoided costs fluctuate with the price of oil so that when oil prices are high, avoided costs are high. The average price of electricity generated at Kaheawa Wind results in a discount of at least forty percent of avoided costs for MECO. Some of the savings are passed indirectly to the consumer. For example, each rate payer is charged a fuel surcharge. Kaheawa Wind saves approximately 600 barrels of oil a day when the wind farm is in full operation. The less oil that is used results in a lower fuel surcharge for each rate payer.
A: Wind energy generation facilities have the potential to affect birds, bats, and their habitats, though not always in a detrimental manner. Under some circumstances, birds and bats may use the same airspace as the wind turbines. This could lead to the potential for collisions that might result in injury or death. Understanding that the possibility exists for bird and bat interaction with the wind facility during ordinary operation, Kaheawa Wind worked with the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop a comprehensive Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) intended to provide a wide range of avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures that once implemented are designed to result in a net ecological benefit to the four species covered by the HCP. These federally protected wildlife species include the endangered Hawaiian Goose, or Nene, endangered Hawaiian Petrel, endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bat, and the threatened Newell's Shearwater.
An extensive monitoring program has enabled Kaheawa Wind wildlife biologists working in close collaboration with the DLNR and USFWS to learn a great deal about the occurrence of these species in the vicinity of the Kaheawa Wind site. For example, Hawaiian Hoary Bats are known to occur on most of the main Hawaiian Islands and it has been assumed they may occur at Kaheawa Wind as well. However, extensive surveys have resulted in zero detections of this rare and little understood bat species, and it is therefore believed that the risk of undesirable impacts for this species and its habitat is relatively low. The Nene is a year-round resident of the Kaheawa Wind region. Through careful monitoring and reporting, it has been learned that Nene appear to have become accustomed to the activities and operations at Kaheawa Wind, clearly demonstrating avoidance behavior and continued, uninterrupted use of the immediate and surrounding area for essential foraging, social interaction, and breeding. Similarly, surveys performed at Kaheawa Wind during the Hawaiian Petrel and Newell's Shearwater breeding season have revealed that low numbers of these birds pass over Kaheawa Wind on their way to and from inland breeding sites in the West Maui interior.
Kaheawa Wind is working closely with the DLNR and USFWS to pursue advance mitigation measures to offset anticipated future incidental impacts to these species. Kaheawa Wind biologists are tasked with identifying, until recently undiscovered nesting areas in the West Maui interior in an effort to implement protection measures that will result in increased survival and productivity of naturally occurring populations of these seabirds which are intended to result in a net ecological benefit, outweighing any impacts to these species as a consequence of Kaheawa Wind's normal operations. In addition, Kaheawa Wind is working alongside DLNR and USFWS to facilitate the construction of a new Nene captive release pen that will enable Nene that are raised in a captive propagation program to enter the free-ranging population in a setting that affords the highest likelihood of survival to adulthood. Furthermore, Kaheawa Wind has agreed to fund the captive propagation of 10 Nene goslings per year for the first 5 years of project operation regardless of whether any impact (take) actually occurs. Because very little is known about Hawaiian Hoary Bats, Kaheawa Wind has provided significant funding dedicated to enhancing support for Hawaiian Hoary Bat research in the Hawaiian Islands.
Finally, Kaheawa Wind maintains an ongoing wildlife education and outreach program designed to enhance the number and quality of observations of HCP-covered species. This serves to enhance awareness among full-time and contract personnel who work at Kaheawa Wind and fosters valuable exchange with biologists. Kaheawa Wind biologists also work closely with a broad constituency base from the local community on Maui and take part in sharing the exciting results of the HCP with communities throughout Hawaii.
|
 |
home
construction
