WAIMEA — A cattle ranch on the Big Island is exploring whether it can generate enough renewable energy to sustain itself and neighboring Waimea.
WAIMEA — A cattle ranch on the Big Island is exploring whether it can generate enough renewable energy to sustain itself and neighboring Waimea.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday that the ranch has hired three consulting companies to help determine what’s possible on its 130,000 acres on the north side of the island.
Chief executive Neil “Dutch” Kuyper of Parker Ranch said the ranch’s primary motivation is saving money and avoiding the volatility in prices from utilities. He hopes there will be enough energy to help supply Waimea.
Hawaii residents pay roughly three times the national average for electricity, with some of the highest rates in the state on the Big Island.
“If there is a way to partner with the community and do a community grid, it seems like a real logical proposition to explore,” Kuyper said. “Ultimately, this is about lowering the cost of electricity for residents and businesses. That’s the goal.”
Kuyper says the ranch pays an average $300,000 per year for electricity, while North Hawaii Community Hospital pays about $1.2 million to $1.4 million. He said the ranch has potential for wind, solar and biomass energy development, plus pumped hydro-power.
Because the ranch has a 7,000-foot elevation change, it might be possible to develop a system that pumps water between two reservoirs to generate electricity, Kuyper said. There are 40 similar systems around the United States, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Parker Ranch was established in 1847, and is run through a charitable trust. The ranch owns about 26,000 cattle and 125 horses.
Kuyper said the consultants will look into feeding electricity to the grid used by Hawaii Electric Light Co.