$90 Million Dollar Wind Farm Begins Construction 2015

Construction on a California based wind energy development company’s $90 million, 25-megawatt wind farm on public and private lands on Oahu’s North Shore is expected to start in the third quarter of 2015 and be operational in early 2016.

Champlin Hawaii Holdings recently provided an update of the “Na Pua Makani wind project” in an environmental impact statement preparation notice. Champlin has already signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company and is awaiting the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s approval on that contract.

Champlin President Michael Cutbirth estimates that once the wind farm is up and running, it could cut Hawaiian Electric Company’s per-kilowatt hour cost of electricity by half when compared to current rates.