Around 60,000 residents and tourists on the island of Kauai can soon expect solar powered electricity, after the redistribution of $68 million loan funds by the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. From receiving part of this funding, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative announced its plans to install a 12 megawatt solar project, a joint venture with the Homestead Community Development Corporation. The contract was given to the installer REC Solar, who is now committed to their second utility-scale project working with the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. The project is expected to provide electricity for about 8,000 homes.

"The growth of the solar industry is due in part to the aggressive actions from forward-thinking utilities like Kauai Island Utility Cooperative," said Lee Johnson, CEO of REC Solar. "This coalition demonstrates the innovative spirit and concern for the environment that has made Hawaii home to the nation's second highest installed solar capacity per capita, and we are excited to move this project forward. Solar is a bankable, proven way to grow Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's renewable generation portfolio and meet the energy needs of Hawaii."

This new project will replace their current system of oil-powered generators, which currently cost Kauai Island Utility Cooperative tens of millions of dollars to operate and are strongly dictated by the price of oil. Taking advantage of the many sunlit hours for this solar system will benefit KIUC financially as oil prices are projected to increase, as well as decrease imported oil consumption by almost 12,000 barrels a year. After the solar system is in place, residents can depend on stable electricity costs as well.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is dedicated to pursing diverse renewable resources such as solar power, hydropower, bio-fuel, and biomass to change the way Kauai is powered. As a non-profit organization, owned and operated by those it serves, one of their goals is to have the greenest power systems in America. As the demand in Hawaii for clean, renewable resources is growing stronger, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is proud to announce this project, moving closer to their target of having 50% of their energy from renewable resources by 2023. Over the next 20 years with the solar system, around 567,000,000 pounds of NOx, SOx, and CO2 emissions will be prevented. Preserving the natural habitats of the island is crucial for the tourism industry which makes up a large part of the economy.