Governor Dedicates Solar Farm on Big Island
As part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, Governor Lingle participated in the dedication of a new solar farm by Sopogy called Holaniku at Keahole Point. Holaniku is the first Micro Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) farm in the world.
Governor Lingle and Darren Kimura, president/CEO/founder, Sopogy activate the solar power system.The facility will produce enough clean solar energy to power more than 250 homes, reduce the need to import over 2,000 barrels of oil annually and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 6,000 tons over 30 years.
“Today is a proud day,” Governor Lingle said, noting that it is one of many steps the state is taking in its pursuit of a clean energy future.
Other initiatives include collaborative partnerships between state, federal government and private sector; changing the way we build new buildings and retrofitting existing structures; providing incentives and setting requirements for alternative fuel vehicles; and placing a ban on new fossil fuel power plants in the State of Hawai`i.
In early 2008, the Lingle-Aiona Administration launched the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.
The bold initiative seeks to obtain 70 percent of Hawai`i’s energy from clean sources by 2030 – 40 percent from renewables and 30 percent from efficiencies and conservation and established Hawai`i as world model for energy independence.
U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner said at that time, “Hawai`i’s success will serve as an integrated model and demonstration test bed for the United States and other island communities globally, many of which are just beginning the transition to a clean energy economy.”