Kahuku Leads Way in New Wind Technology

Courtesy of First Wind

KAHUKU — A lot has changed in 30 years. Just look at Kahuku.

Not far from where 200-kilowatt two-blade towers once stood and eventually failed, 12 new state-of-the-art Clipper Liberty turbines — each of which will be more than 400 feet tall and capable of generating more than 10 times as much electricity as the old models — will soon rise on Oahu's North Shore.

Boston-based energy company First Wind officially broke ground Tuesday and expects to be generating electricity in a matter of months, said CEO Paul Gaynor.

Based on expected wind patterns, the 30-megawatt Kahuku Wind system is expected to produce more than 80 million kilowatt-hours each year — enough to power 7,700 homes and reduce the state's consumption of oil by 150,000 barrels annually.

"The Kahuku Wind project brings Hawaii another step closer to reducing our state's dependence on imported foreign oil and increasing our energy security," Gov. Linda Lingle said in a written statement. "These wind turbines will provide another source of clean energy for Oahu's power grid, further building on the progress Hawaii has made in becoming a world leader in clean energy."

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