The state’s first two community-owned solar projects are coming to Molokai, according to a release.

Hawaiian Electric and Hoʻāhu Energy believe the two solar plus battery projects will meet over 20% of Molokai’s energy needs and serve 1,500 homes. 

What You Need To Know

  • The two community-based renewable energy projects could help lower electric bills for Molokai customers who cannot install rooftop solar

  • Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative Molokai is a community-owned and managed energy cooperative formed that is currently negotiating a 20-year contract with Hawaiian Electric

  • Todd Yamashita, the president of Hoʻāhu, said community solar will benefit Molokai residents, because the energy made from a solar project is credited directly to customers on their bills

  • Subscription plans will offer net monthly savings in the range of 15% of former electricity bills, according to Yamashita

The two community-based renewable energy projects — Pālā‘au Solar and Kualapu‘u Solar — could help lower electric bills for Molokai customers who cannot install rooftop solar, such as renters.  

Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative Molokai is a community-owned and managed energy cooperative formed in 2020. The energy cooperative shares its profits with subscribers, and it has a goal to hire only local Molokai residents for installation, maintenance and management. 

Hoʻāhu spent the last three years hosting public workshops and talking with Molokai residents, who helped design and choose locations for the projects. They also discussed how a subscriber benefit program would work. 

Hawaiian Electric and Hoʻāhu Energy are currently negotiating a 20-year contract. Once that is completed, the companies will submit two applications to get the projects approved by the Public Utilities Commission. 

Pālā‘au Solar would provide 2.2 megawatts of solar energy, which would be paired with a 10.1 megawatt-hour battery storage system. It would be on the north side of Molokai, next to the Pālā‘au Baseyard on property owned by Hawaiian Electric. 

Kualapu‘u Solar would provide 0.250 megawatts, which would be paired with a 1 megawatt-hour battery. It would be at the Kualapu‘u Park and Community Center, which is near the Pālā‘au area. The project’s solar panels would be mounted on carport structures placed over the existing parking lot. 

Todd Yamashita, the president of Hoʻāhu, said community solar will benefit Molokai residents, because the energy made from a solar project is credited directly to customers on their bills. 

After the projects are approved, Molokai customers may become “subscribers” to the facilities. 

“The cost to subscribe is being reviewed currently,” Yamashita told Spectrum News Hawaii.

He said they will better understand the costs when the solar projects are completed, since building costs, grants and loans will be factored in. 

“We aimed for an effective savings for our subscribers of 15% off current electricity bills, which means that if a future subscriberʻs bill is $150/month today, we might expect them to be paying $127.50 in electricity costs after bill credits and subscription fees,” said Yamashita.

Hawaiian Electric and Hoʻāhu Energy expect the two projects to be in operation by mid-2025. 

For more information about the Ho‘āhu projects, go to hoahuenergy.coop/cbre.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

 

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