Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative leaders got a boost yesterday from state Senate leaders in the co-op officials’ efforts to continue using two hydroelectric power plants in East Kaua‘i to generate electricity for island consumers. During a hearing in Honolulu yesterday,
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative leaders got a boost yesterday from state Senate leaders in the co-op officials’ efforts to continue using two hydroelectric power plants in East Kaua‘i to generate electricity for island consumers.
During a hearing in Honolulu yesterday, members of the Senate Committee on Water, Land and Agriculture approved a joint Senate and House resolution authorizing the Board of Land and Natural Resources to issue KIUC leaders a 65-year-term lease.
The lease would allow KIUC leaders to take water from the Waikoko Stream, also known as the Blue Hole, to power the two hydropower plants, state Department of Land and Natural Resources officials said.
By law, the resolution must be approved by the state Legislature before BLNR members can authorize issuance of the water-rights permit to KIUC officials.
Water for both hydropower plants also is diverted from the north fork of the Wailua River.
The resolution also would allow KIUC leaders to use portions of a water-transmission line located in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve managed by the DLNR.
Dede Mamiya, the land administrator for the DLNR Land Division, attended the Senate meeting in Honolulu.
She said committee members voted to forward the resolution to the full House and Senate floors for votes in the future.
The legislative measure would provide KIUC leaders with “financial justification” to seek funds to refurbish the hydropower plants.
Approval of the measure also would allow KIUC officials to perform maintenance and repair of the facilities.
The two hydropower plants are among at least six hydropower plants located on the island. The power generated by the facilities helps KIUC rely less on fossil fuels in the generation of electricity for island consumers.
In addition to the two hydropower plants operated by KIUC, one hydropower plant operates in Wainiha, and two formerly owned by Kekaha Sugar Company operate in Koke‘e. Gay & Robinson Inc. also operates one in West Kaua‘i.
In the past, Citizens Communications was conveyed the two hydropower plants used by the now-defunct Lihue Plantation.
In 2001, Kauai Electric leaders requested a 65-year, water-rights lease from the BLNR, but were instead issued a month-to-month, revocable permit at a time when the utility was up for sale.
In 2002, KE was sold to KIUC, which retained the revocable permit and which is now seeking the 65-year, water-rights permit.
Staff Writer Lester Chang may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
