The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and Alexander & Baldwin announced plans today to build a 6-megawatt photovoltaic project that would be the island’s largest utility-scale solar energy facility.

Alexander & Baldwin would develop and build the 20-acre facility on Kauai’s south shore and sell the electricity to KIUC at a fixed price under a 20-year power purchase agreement, according to a news release.

Pending state and county regulatory approvals construction is expected to begin in late 2011 and be completed by the end of 2012.

KIUC already has a 1-megawatt PV project in operation in Kapaa, and is nearing completion on a 3-megawatt facility in Poipu.