Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approves First Wind contract for 69-MW Kawailoa Wind Power project on Oahu's North Shore; construction on farm to begin in December, expected to be operational by end of 2012

Tracy McDonald

HALEIWA, Hawaii , December 14, 2011 (press release) – The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a contract for what will be the largest wind farm in the state.

The regulators on Tuesday approved an agreement between First Wind and Hawaiian Electric Company for the utility to purchase renewable energy produced by the proposed 69-megawatt Kawailoa Wind Power project on Oahu's North Shore.

The farm includes 30 wind turbine generators will be built on land above Haleiwa owned by Kamehameha Schools. Construction is scheduled to begin this month and the project is expected to be operating by the end of next year.

Kawailoa Wind Power is a subsidiary of Boston-based First Wind. Under the contract, it will sell renewable energy at pre-determined prices over 20 years. First Wind also operates two other Hawaii wind energy projects.

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