Senator Daniel Akaka and US Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono helped launch Hawaii's newest renewable energy project at a Hawaiian blessing ceremomy for the Hu Honua Bioenergy Facility in the community of Pepeekeo, on the Big Island's Hamakua Coast.
Financed, operated and majority-owned by MMA Renewable Ventures, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC, the 24 megawatt (MW) power station will convert locally grown biomass into electricity, supporting the state's aggressive renewable energy targets.
The carbon-neutral power plant also supports economic development and energy independence within the island state, which relies on imported fossil fuels for 90 per cent of its energy needs.
Local support of the project is overwhelming. Local union leader Rickard Baker, division director of ILWU 142 Hawaii, reported over 95 per cent of the area's residents approached have signed a petition in support of converting the power plant into a biomass-to-energy facility.
In addition to the members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation, remarks in support of the project were delivered by State Representative Dwight Takamine and Jane Testa, Hawaii County’s director of research and development.
"Like its name, which means 'to come out of the earth', Hu Honua turns to the land to effectively and sustainably meet Hawaii's power needs," said Dan KenKnight, director of Hu Honua BioEnergy LLC.
"Projects like the Hu Honua Bioenergy Facility play an important role in shifting Hawaii's energy mix away from imported petroleum toward renewable sources. Our partners at MMA Renewable Ventures bring to the project the management and operational expertise needed to ensure that Hu Honua continues delivering reliable clean energy for decades to come."
