Hoku Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc. has been selected to design, engineer and install photovoltaic (PV) power systems at airports across the state of Hawaii. Today, Hoku Solar and the Hawaii State Department of Transportation (DOT) entered a series of agreements by which the DOT will purchase solar electricity generated by up to an aggregate of 779 kilowatts of photovoltaic (PV) power from several systems to be installed, owned and operated by Hoku Solar.

Hoku Solar plans to install the PV power systems at multiple DOT properties including Lihue Airport, Kahului Airport, Kona International Airport at Keahole and Hilo International Airport beginning in 2008. Subject to final system design, the projects are expected to total up to 779 kilowatts in aggregate. DOT will buy the electricity generated by Hoku Solar or its affiliate, who will own and operate each system, and who will sell the electricity generated by the PV power systems to DOT at a predetermined rate over a contract period of 20 years.

The projects will contribute directly to the state of Hawaii’s demonstrated focus on energy savings and renewable energy strategies, as outlined in recent legislation. The initiative also advances the state’s continued leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A project totaling 779 kilowatts of PV could produce enough electricity in 20 years to power nearly 1,900 homes for a year, and is expected to offset up to 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the systems.

“Hoku is proud to have been selected to partner with the Hawaii State Department of Transportation on this effort,” said Dustin Shindo, chairman and chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific. “Through this initiative and many others, the state of Hawaii continues to demonstrate real leadership on issues surrounding renewable energy and climate change.”
“This is an exemplary public-private partnership that will bring clean, solar power to many of our state’s public facilities, with minimal up-front investment,” said Brennon Morioka, director of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation.

“Now, more than ever before, the state must seek every opportunity to integrate renewable power and energy conservation into public operations. Power purchase agreements like these not only represent thoughtful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, but they provide important, incremental relief to the very real dangers of global climate change.”
Hoku Solar plans to complete the installation of the systems in 2008, subject to its ability to obtain third party financing for the procurement and construction of the PV systems.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve many risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to Hoku’s ability to successfully complete the photovoltaic (PV) installation for DOTA in 2008, or at all; Hoku’s ability to successfully identify third party financing for the procurement and construction of the PV systems; the expected power output of Hoku’s PV systems; the expected performance and durability of Hoku’s PV systems; Hoku’s future financial performance; Hoku’s business strategy and plans; and objectives of management for future operations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Hoku’s actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider the risks described in Hoku’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Hoku assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Credits: Market Watch

No Comments »

More companies are looking at producing ethanol from sugarcane in the United States.

Pacific West Energy LLC in Kaumakani, Hawaii, will lease land and other assets from sugar producer Gay & Robinson Inc. to grow sugarcane, and produce ethanol from sugar juice and molasses at a proposed 12 MMgy plant on the island of Kauai. After 119 years, Gay & Robinson is closing its doors. The company has operated a 7,500-acre sugarcane plantation and sugar mill on the island, producing approximately 50,000 tons of sugar annually.

Meanwhile, Coskata Inc. in Warrenville, Ill., has been in discussions with Clewiston, Fla.-based United States Sugar Corp., the nation’s largest producer of cane sugar, about building a 50 MMgy to 100 MMgy ethanol plant adjacent to United States Sugar’s mill in Clewiston, according to Coskata spokesman Matthew Hargarten. Hargarten said Coskata would potentially be interested in building multiple sugarcane ethanol plants in Florida, as well as cellulosic ethanol plants in the northern part of the state where woody biomass might be available for ethanol production.

The discussions and plans between Coskata and United States Sugar have been on hold since June when United States Sugar announced it was negotiating a $1.75 billion deal with the State of Florida. Under that agreement, United States Sugar would sell its nearly 300 square miles of land south of Lake Okeechobee to the state for Everglades restoration. United States Sugar would be allowed to farm the 187,000 acres of land for six more years before going out of business. United States Sugar is continuing to negotiate the deal with the state, which might include allowing some sugar assets to be used for ethanol production.

Credits: Ethanol Producer

No Comments »

No Comments »

Some Lanai residents are objecting to plans to build Hawaii’s largest wind farm on the island, an effort that could supply one-fifth of Oahu’s electricity demand.

The community is divided over the $750 million project, with supporters arguing for energy independence and opponents claiming it could cut public access to hunting and fishing.

The wind farm idea by David Murdock, a billionaire who owns 98 percent of the island and Castle & Cooke Inc., would build 125 turbines spread over 10,000 to 12,000 acres and then export power to Oahu via undersea cables.

”We’re prepared to fight him on this,” said retired state worker Ron McOmber, who has squabbled with Murdock before.

”They’re not going to let you go hunting in that area or go fishing in that area,” said Lanai Postmaster Bradford Oshiro.

”They’re going to lock it up.”

But Christopher Lovvorn, Castle & Cooke’s director of alternative energy, said fishers, hikers and beachgoers wouldn’t lose access to the area, and individual turbines won’t even be fenced in.

”Why don’t we all get together, do the same thing, make this island into something really spectacular?” Murdock asked at an Aug. 15 community meeting in the Lanai High and Elementary School cafeteria. ”I am trying to get us economic stability. You be my benefit, and I’ll be yours.”

Wind power would help expand Lanai’s economy primarily by giving Castle & Cooke a source of profit to help sustain other operations and investments on the island. Castle & Cooke employs more than a third of the 3,000 people who live on the island, many of whom back the wind project.

The wind farm itself would create only a few jobs, perhaps 15 to 20, Lovvorn estimates.

In addition, it wouldn’t necessarily reduce the cost of electricity for Lanai residents, who pay the highest rates in the state at about 55 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to the statewide average of about 30 cents per kilowatt hour.

Concerns about Murdock’s plans led 32 Lanai residents to sign a letter published in The Honolulu Advertiser on Aug. 10 in which the author, Robin Kaye, questioned how the plan would affect access, the environment and island residents.

Murdock doesn’t need a vote of approval from residents to develop the wind farm, but opposition could derail his plans.

Environmentalist Jeff Mikulina, outgoing director of the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, said he supports Murdock’s general plan to supply power to Oahu with wind.

”This is an exciting project,” he said. ”We think Hawaii needs to be – and will be – the role model for the globe for (renewable energy).

“Lanai is certainly blessed with wind resources, and we should be tapping into that.”

The wind farm plan is still a long way off.

Castle & Cooke will need to evaluate whether financing, area wind speeds, environmental students and other factors will make the project feasible.

It could take five to seven years to obtain all necessary permits.

Credits: Maui News

No Comments »