The Kaheawa Wind Power farm expansion now has 14 more turbines which will make it a 50 megawatt production center with some capability for overnight battery storage. Even with the advances in technology, the idea of using wind -- a free resource that simply needs funding for equipment and maintenance, is increasingly important ("Renewable Energy Sources," 2010).
Other companies are exploring the combination of solar and wind to produce energy for smaller projects. For example, alternative power generators could drive down the need for energy if just 20% of corporations used renewable energy. One case in point is the Parker Rang, using a combination grid and tracking system that literally turns cells toward the sun and aims the wind turbines. This system was built in just 5 months, and will completely pay for itself within 10 years. After that, they will provide 20 more years of free electricity and save 70,000 barrels of oil. Already, Parker Ranch is saving 50% of its $20,000/month energy bill ("Hawaii Small-Scale Energy Projects," 2010).
Because of the large amount of tourism and agriculture, Hawaii needs a great deal of energy. Even a 10-20% reduction offers huge cost and environmental savings. The teaming of Federal and State governments with major corporations and larger businesses seems idea to move these wind projects from theory to practice. For example, in 2006, Hawaii, the U.S. Energy Department, and Shell partnered with Ulupalakua Ranch in Maui to build a $200 million project with 20 turbines producing 40 megawatts of power. The ranch does not need all that power, so it will "farm the wind" and provide up to 20% of Maui's total energy needs, benefit the ranch for its investment, Shell, and the government ("Maui to House Large Wind Power Farm," 2006).
Experts hope that these cooperative projects will be guides for the rest of the country in the ease and practicality of wind power. Certainly, there are areas of the country where this is not feasible. However,...
The technological issues have such a momentum now that the price per megawatt has dropped by almost 15% just in the last few years; and compared to a decade ago, over 40%. Wind energy is inexpensive, clean, some say unsightly, but compared to a world with power rationing, one of the best ways we can work with the environment to produce clean power without negative consequences ("Hawaii Wind Energy News," 2010).
Appendix A -- Hawaiian Island Average Wind Speed Map
Particularly note the sections in blue and red which are the highest density speeds. Note there is a good section of Kauai, Molokai, parts of Maui, and the sourthern side of Oahu.
REFERENCES
"Hawaii Small-Scale Energy Projects," (2010). Power-Technology.com. Cited in:
http://www.power-technology.com/projects/hawaii/
"Hawaii Wind Energy News," (2010). Wind Energy Industry Today. Cited in:
http://windenergy.einnews.com/hawaii/
Matthew, S. (2006), Wind Energy: Fundamentals, Resource Analysis, and Economics, Springer.
"Maui to House Large Wind Power Farm," (July 3, 20006). MSN News. Cited in:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13683256/
Neha, Khanna, (2003), "On the Economics of Nonrenewable Resources," [Ed. John M. Gowdy],
in Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), Developed under the Auspices of the UNESCO, Eolss, cited in http://www.eolss.net.
"Renewable Energy Sources," (2010). Hawaii's Energy Future. Cited in:
http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/articles/Wind_Energy.html
WorldWatch Institute. (2009). State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World. New York: W.W. Norton.
