MauiLifeStyleBlog

source: Maui Electric Company 1-808-871-9777

In Maui County, 14.5% of the electricity generated in 2007 came from renewable biomass, wind, hydro and biofuel sources of energy.

Due to Hawaii's need for oil for ground, sea & air transportation, our State has traditionally been an oil-based company.  Oil for electricity is refined from the same barrel imported for transportation use.  It is a system that made more sense when the cost of oil was relatively low.  We now need to change Hawaii's dependence on imported oil by increasing energy efficiency & conservation and using more renewable energy sources to increase Hawaii's energy security and address concerns about global warming.

The use of renewable energy on Maui is progressing.  Completed in 2006, the Kaheawa Wind Power Wind Farm provided a full year of electricity to the grid during 2007.  It is capable of producing up to 30 megawatts (MW) of power.

Looking forward, more wind projects have been proposed.  Oceanlinx Ltd. plans to install a 2.7 MW wave-to-energy demonstration project off the North coast of Maui in 2010.

And, the planned BlueEarth Biofuels plant will refine biodiesel for use at the electric Maalaea Power Plant.  It is expected to be completed in 2011.

Maui Electric Cy.	%*
Oil	83.7
Coal	1.8
Biofuel	0.1
Biomass	4.4
Hydro	0.7
Wind	9.3
Total	100

*percentage of fuels used to produce electricity based on the amount of elect5ricity generated by MECO and the amound purchased from independent power producers in 2007.

That's an excellent beginning!