Renewable Energy Technology Assessments - Kauai Island Utility ...

Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative
Renewable Energy Technology Assessments 8.0 Hydro
upstream Kekaha Ditch to penstock to generate additional head. A photo of the generator
at the existing power plant is shown in Figure 8-11.
Along with the Kokee project below, the lands draining this project are under the
influence of the State Department of Agriculture under the auspices of the Agribusiness
Development Corporation (ADC). ADC is also the current project owner. The ADC was
formed in 1994 to facilitate and provide direction for the transition of Hawaii's
agriculture industry from a dominance of sugar and pineapple to one composed of a
diversity of different crops. One of its main objectives is to facilitate in the orderly
transition of existing agribusiness resources of land, water and infrastructure as they
become available. 92 Another influence on this and the Kokee project may come from one
of the last remaining plantation holders, Gay & Robinson, who control 51,000 acres in
the area from their headquarters in Makaweli. Gay & Robinson is interested in
renewable energy including hydropower to the extent that it creates a positive financial
opportunity.
Figure 8-8. Waimea Mauka Hydropower Plant Vicinity (source: Hawaii DOA).
92 http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/adc.htm
21 March 2005 8-13 Black & Veatch