HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-23 Hawaii County wins national climate protection award -- press release
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
June 23, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
Hawai'i County Wins National Climate Protection Award for Windfarm Project
The County of Hawai'i has won a national climate protection award from the United
States Conference of Mayors (USCM) for the Department of Water Supply’s Lālāmilo
Windfarm project.
The Large City – Honorable Mention Award for Hawai'i County puts it in the company of
three other Honorable Mention winners: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina;
and Cagus, Puerto Rico.
The Large City category is for cities or counties whose populations exceed 100,000.
Only one other large city, First Place winner Long Beach, California, was in a tier above
the Honorable Mentions.
“We are so happy for Hawai'i County to be recognized by this nationwide award,” said
Mayor Harry Kim. “The Lālāmilo Windfarm is reducing greenhouse gas emissions
significantly – and at no cost to Water Supply’s customers.”
The Windfarm officially opened for commercial operations in September 2016, with five
turbines generating 3.3 megawatts of electricity with no-export to the grid. It contributes
to the State of Hawai'i’s Clean Energy Initiative’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy
by 2045.
This project is arguably the first time in Hawai'i, and perhaps the nation, that a local
government has developed such a wind-powered, water-pumping facility capable of
significant greenhouse gas reductions at no cost to the taxpayer. The Windfarm is
located on 78 acres adjacent to eight Department of Water Supply water wells in South
Kohala.
The award to Hawai'i County was announced at a ceremony on Friday at the U.S.
Mayor’s Conference annual meeting in Miami.
For further information, please call Janet Snyder at the Mayor’s Office at 961-8211.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.