Molly Ayala
Unlike the other Hawaiian islands, Kapaa in Kauai is not supplied by the Hawaiian Electric Company. Instead, it is powered by the consumer-owned Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), which is the largest residential electric provider in Kauai County. In 2019, KIUC was ranked fifth nationwide in terms of the total megawatts of power it can store. Interestingly, the cooperative utilises a flock of sheep at its solar plant in Lawai, which was commissioned in 2019.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Kapaa CDP residents' electricity use
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is the largest residential electric provider in Kauai County, and Kapaa CDP falls within its service area. KIUC is a consumer-owned cooperative that manages the electricity supply for the entire island of Kauai, which is the only Hawaiian island not supplied by the Hawaiian Electric Company.
KIUC has made significant strides in renewable energy, with a focus on solar, hydro, and biomass generation. In 2019, KIUC achieved over 50% renewable power, well ahead of state objectives. This was facilitated by the construction of a solar plant in Lawai, which can produce and store power during the day for release at night, and the use of sheep to maintain vegetation around solar panels.
Kapaa CDP's residential electric rates tend to peak in May, with the highest average bill occurring in August. The average residential price per kilowatt-hour in Kapaa CDP is 40.86 cents, significantly higher than the national average of 16.62 cents. The average monthly electricity bill for residents in Kapaa CDP is $219.14, which is comparable to other areas within Kauai County.
Choosing the Right Amp Breaker for Your Electric Oven
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kauai's renewable energy
Unlike other Hawaiian islands, Kauai's electricity is managed by the consumer-owned Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), which formed in November 2002. KIUC is one of America's newest electric cooperatives, serving consumers in 48 states.
KIUC has a strong drive to untether the electric grid from fossil fuels, rooted in a community-driven sense of duty to limit carbon emissions and shield Kauai from global oil market volatility. As a result, Kauai currently runs on over 60% renewable sources and is on track to be running on 80% renewables by 2030. In fact, the entire island of Kauai now operates routinely on 100% renewable energy, primarily solar.
KIUC has invested in solar capacity, with solar farms and plants that can produce and store power during the day and release it at night. The cooperative has also introduced timed-release solar plants, partnering with Tesla, and has plans to construct another solar-battery plant.
In addition to solar, KIUC's renewable energy sources include hydro and biomass generation. The Green Energy Agricultural Biomass-to-Energy Facility on Kauai is a 6.7 MW biomass electric plant. The U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai also includes a 14-megawatt solar facility paired with a 70 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.
KIUC's focus on renewable energy has put it ahead of state objectives for integrating renewable electricity. With its advanced solar capacity and new solar-battery plant, KIUC is more than a decade ahead of the state's target of 70% renewables by 2040.
Unexpected Power Outage in Adairsville: What Happened?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Aloha Kitchen: Recipes from Hawai'i [A Cookbook]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91idnp0TEZL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is a consumer-owned electric cooperative that manages the electricity supply for the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It is the only electric cooperative in the state of Hawaii, serving approximately 38,695 member-owners.
The history of KIUC dates back to the early 20th century when Kauai Electric was incorporated in 1905 as a subsidiary of McBryde Sugar to construct a hydroelectric plant on the Wainiha River. Over the decades, Kauai Electric underwent several mergers and ownership changes. In the late 1990s, Citizens Utilities, which had acquired Kauai Electric in 1969, announced its intentions to divest from the electric utility business.
This led to the formation of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative in 1999 by a group of local business leaders. In November 2002, KIUC purchased the Kauai Electric Company for $215 million.
KIUC has made significant strides in renewable energy. In 2019, KIUC reached a milestone of generating 50% of its power from renewable sources, including solar, hydro, and biomass. This achievement put them a decade ahead of state objectives for integrating renewable electricity. KIUC has successfully integrated large-scale solar into its grid, with 100% of its generation coming from renewable sources during daylight hours on most days.
KIUC continues to innovate and invest in renewable energy projects, including solar power plants and battery storage systems, ranking fifth nationwide in terms of total megawatts of power storage capacity. As of 2023, Kauai runs on over 60% renewable energy sources and is on track to reach 80% by 2030.
Bus Bar Basics: Power Distribution and Electrical Safety
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kapaa's electricity emissions
I could not find specific information about Kapaa's electricity emissions. However, I found information about Kauai, the Hawaiian island on which Kapaa is located.
Kauai is the only Hawaiian island not supplied by the Hawaiian Electric Company. Instead, the consumer-owned Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) manages the island's electricity. As of 2019, Kauai runs on over 50% renewable sources and is on track to be running on 80% renewables by 2030. This includes solar, hydro, and biomass generation.
KIUC has so much solar capacity that there are frequently days when fuel-powered generators in Port Allen and Kapaa don't need to be run. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Solar plant in Lawai, commissioned in 2019, is capable of producing and storing power during the day and then releasing it at night. It is partially dependent on 300 sheep, which keep the solar panels clear of vegetation.
In terms of emissions, Kauai's electricity generation is far cleaner than the rest of Hawaii's. As of 2023, 67% of electricity generation in Hawaii came from petroleum, compared to 67% from renewable sources for Kauai.
Electra: Marvel or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Kauai's electricity history
Unlike other islands in Hawaii, Kauai is not supplied by the Hawaiian Electric Company. Instead, the island's electricity is managed by the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), a consumer-owned cooperative.
The Hawaiian Electric Company, established in 1891, has played a significant role in meeting the power demands of the Hawaiian Islands for over a century. However, Kauai has taken a different path in terms of electricity provision.
KIUC has made remarkable progress in renewable energy utilisation. In 2019, it was reported that KIUC had reached 50% renewable power, including solar, hydro, and biomass generation. This achievement put them ahead of state objectives for integrating renewable electricity. KIUC introduced its first timed-release solar plant in 2017 in partnership with Tesla, and in 2019, they commissioned a new solar plant in Lawai that utilised 300 sheep to maintain the solar panels.
As of 2023, Kauai's electricity is sourced from over 60% renewable sources, and it is on track to reach 80% by 2030. The island has the lowest electricity rates in Hawaii, and its residents pay the least for electricity compared to anywhere else on the Hawaiian islands.
Sharpen Your Brain with Electric-Fast Strategies
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) manages the electricity in Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii.
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is a consumer-owned utility cooperative that provides electricity to the island of Kauai. It is the largest residential electric provider in Kauai County, Hawaii.
KIUC generates electricity through a mix of solar, hydro, and biomass generation. It has a solar plant in Lawai that is capable of producing and storing power during the day and releasing it at night.
KIUC has some of the lowest electric rates in Hawaii and is ahead of the curve in renewable energy. In 2019, it reached 50% renewable power, which is 10 years earlier than projected. It is also ranked fifth nationwide in terms of total megawatts of power storage capacity.
