Whither wind power in Hawaii?

Using wind energy to generate electricity for Hawaii has long been an ambition of clean-energy advocates. Wind farms operate on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island, including a 12-turbine operation in Kahuku. Also, the state has been weighing plans to build large wind turbine facilities on Molokai and Lanai, with energy being transmitted to power-hungry Oahu by undersea cable.

However, the growth of wind energy development here remains uncertain.

A new five-year integrated resource plan from Hawaiian Electric Co., released earlier this month, posited that HECO could reach its state-mandated renewable energy goals with island-by-island projects, making the $1 billion-plus cable unnecessary. More cost analysis will be needed to determine the feasibility of the undersea cable.