Pana‘ewa power plant plan raises concerns

A proposed energy facility in Pana‘ewa is still far from reality but already has residents raising their eyebrows.

The Alahao Renewable Energy Project would develop a 12-acre parcel — owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands — on Railroad Avenue just north of Kukila Street into an energy plant capable of adding up to 60 megawatts of power to the Hawaiian Electric grid on the Big Island.

According to a presentation by project developer Hawaii Land and Power LLC, the facility would use biofuels sourced from Pacific Biodiesel and the Keaau Refinery to power one to two combustion turbines, each capable of generating up to 30 megawatts. The power plant would have facilities to store up to 14 days of fuel on-site, as well as a battery storage system.

The project is still in early stages, but DHHL has held multiple meetings in November and February to consult with beneficiaries about the proposal. Feedback during those sessions has been skeptical.

DHHL planner Lillie Makaila described that public testimony during a Feb. 18 meeting of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. She said many beneficiaries had a mood of frustration and were critical of a repeated pattern of using DHHL for industrial projects instead of homesteading.

“One of the largest concerns was that this is another instance of a potential project on DHHL lands that is given to a nonbeneficiary entity,” Makaila said. “Some folks expressed that they cannot help but feel that it’s done on purpose, that they cannot help but feel that the department is not making enough of an effort to offer opportunities to beneficiaries.”

Other people raised specific concerns about potential health and safety hazards presented by the facility.

Maile Lu‘uwai, president of the Keaukaha Pana‘ewa Farmers Association, told the Tribune-Herald on Tuesday that she was initially concerned about the possibility of harmful gas emissions from the burning of biofuel.

Lu‘uwai said that, while biofuels are broadly touted as a more environmentally friendly form of fuel than petroleum, it still releases hazardous air pollutants including hexane — which is used as an industrial degreaser — and formaldehyde.

However, Lu‘uwai added her concern about potential air pollutants pales in comparison to her concern about the project’s potential fire risk.

“It’s an absolute ‘no’ for me,” Lu‘uwai said, explaining that the proposed on-site battery storage system raises the risk of a lithium-ion battery fire, which cannot be extinguished by water.

Lu‘uwai referenced a January fire at a 300-megawatt battery storage plant in Moss Landing, Calif., that required the evacuation of some 1,200 residents. When she saw pictures of the fire, she said she “fell out of her chair.”

“Imagine that happening here,” Lu‘uwai said. “Imagine that tree line in Pana‘ewa, imagine if there’s wind. That’s Pana‘ewa destroyed, that’s a huge shopping district for Hilo gone … and the airport’s right there, too. You know they’d have to shut down all flights if that happened.”

Lu‘uwai said she isn’t opposed to the project on principle, but emphasized it should be located away from populated areas.

Hilo Rep. Chris Todd said he will wait to see how the public permitting process shakes out, but added he “would hesitate to put it anywhere near a residential area.”

Todd also noted the project has many similarities to Honua Ola, a nearly completed biofuel plant in Hamakua that has been plagued with legal problems for years. That project, which invested nearly half a billion dollars to convert an old Pepeekeo sugar mill into a 21.5-megawatt biofuel plant, currently is embroiled in a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric seeking $1 billion in damages.

Although the Hawaiian Homes Commission last month approved a right-of-entry to Hawaii Land and Power — allowing them to access the site and to conduct additional studies — the project is still far off. A project timeline sets the start of construction in 2027 and the start of commercial operations in 2028.

Makaila also said at the Feb. 18 meeting that more in-depth environmental assessments are typically carried out after the right-of-entry has been granted, meaning that closer looks at the potential fire and air pollutant impacts are now possible.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.