SOUTH KOHALA — The County of Hawaii won a national climate protection award Friday for the Department of Water Supply’s Lalamilo Windfarm project. It was announced at a ceremony at the U.S. Mayor’s Conference annual meeting in Miami.
The Large City — Honorable Mention Award for Hawaii County puts it in the company of three other Honorable Mention winners: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina; and Caguas, Puerto Rico.
The Large City category is for cities or counties whose populations exceed 100,000. Only one other large city, First Place winner Long Beach, California, was in a tier above the Honorable Mentions.
“We are so happy for Hawaii County to be recognized by this nationwide award,” Mayor Harry Kim said. “The Lalamilo Windfarm is reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly — and at no cost to Water Supply’s customers.”
Five turbines officially opened for commercial operations at Lalamilo Windfarm last September in South Kohala, generating 3.3 megawatts of electricity with no-export to the grid. It contributes to the state’s Clean Energy Initiative’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.
This project is arguably the first time in Hawaii, and perhaps the nation, that a local government has developed such a wind-powered, water-pumping facility capable of significant greenhouse gas reductions at no cost to the taxpayer. Lalamilo Windfarm is located on 78 acres adjacent to eight Department of Water Supply water wells, just north of Waikoloa.