Solar project proposed for Piiholo
A solar panel energy project that could service more than 500 homes in the Piiholo area and lower electric cost for customers is being proposed off of Makawao Avenue just north of Piiholo Road.
The project, which will be in an open 75-acre field, will be for qualifying low to moderate income residents in the area. The project will take up 16 acres of the field and will be able to serve 30 nonprofit groups in addition to the homes.
Nexamp Solar LLC is proposing to finance, construct, own and operate the panels under a 20-year agreement with Hawaiian Electric Co.
“The benefits include increased environmental equality, increased economic sustainability and a reliable partner,” Mike Billet, director of business development at Nexamp, said last week during a virtual community meeting. “Our proposed technology mitigates the negative impacts of climate change and increases resiliency.”
Billet explained that the “green project” will generate clean power, build grid reliance, and help lower electricity costs through shared solar, which allows multiple energy customers to subscribe for free with no attached contract and take part in a solar project located somewhere in their community.
“It will help reduce the island’s reliance on fossil fuels,” he said. “The battery storage system will help to alleviate the stress from power outages or storm events in that community.”
Subscribers receive a credit on their Hawaiian Electric bills, saving up to 15 percent on energy costs, Billet said. Savings will vary depending on current electric rates, seasonal variability of solar power, and personal electricity consumption.
The proposed Piiholo Road Solar Project will also be a part of the HEC’s Community Based Renewable Energy, which means that preference during the first round will be given to qualified subscribers, such as those in the low to moderate income range established by HUD and who live within a 5-mile radius of the project.
Other qualifications could include someone participating in a government assistance program or a person residing in any zip code identified by Hawaii Energy as qualifying for low to moderate income status.
Nonprofits or small businesses can qualify if they are a city, county, state or federal government agency; or a 501c (3) organization; or they are participants of the Energy Advantage program within the Affordability and Accessibility program established by Hawaii Energy for certain small businesses and restaurants.
The project will also support the state’s goal of being 100 percent renewable by 2045.
Other projects in the next round of shared solar will be open to all customers, Billet said.
The energy system for the Piiholo project will be connected to a 2.7-megawatt AC (alternating current) and 10.9megawatt-hour lithium-ion battery storage system. Battery Energy Storage Systems are also capable of delivering energy to the grid in the event of a system-wide blackout or other disruption.
The panels are flat but would rotate to follow the sun’s rays, reaching 15 feet in height at its peak. They will be fenced in.
Billet said that the project site was chosen because the property was predetermined to experience low to no impact from construction. The team also plans to add native vegetation to decrease visibility of the panels from the road.
Nexamp has a decommission plan to recycle all equipment and restore the land to its natural state once the contract ends. As of now, the equipment will most likely need to be sent to the Mainland for decommissioning.
The proposed project is in the community outreach, land study and application phase. Once Nexamp completes the necessary environmental, cultural, and historic assessments of the Piiholo location and receives approval, construction will begin tentatively in Oct. 2024 and have an anticipated launch date by Oct. 2025.
The next community meeting will be held in April.
For more information, visit https://www.nexamp.com/piiholo-road-solar.
■ Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.