Building Industry Magazine - April 2011 - (Page 9)

Kauai Solar Farm Completed REC Solar in February celebrated the official completion and commissioning of a 1.21 megawatt (MW) solar farm in Kapaa, one of the largest in the state and the first of its kind for Kauai. Project partners Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) and Kapaa Solar LLC, who financed the system and negotiated a power purchase agreement (PPA) with KIUC, joined REC Solar at the ceremony. “Creating more renewable energy alternatives is one of the most critical challenges we face,” says Bernard Carvalho, mayor of Kauai. “In my Holo Holo 2020 vision, renewable energy has been incorporated in our homes, our businesses and our utility to the greatest extent possible.” REC Solar designed, procured and managed the installation of the groundmounted photovoltaic (PV) system that sits on five acres of nonproductive agricultural land in Kapaa. The solar power plant was designed with four 250-kilowatt inverters and is powered by 5,376 225-watt PV modules. This expedited project was contracted in August, designed in September, procured in October and built in November and December last year. REC Solar utilized its proprietary fixed-tilt racking with extremely thick galvanization to combat the island environment’s corrosive components. The inverters are interconnected directly to the KIUC’s distribution lines. “With ample sunshine and aggressive renewable energy goals, Hawaii is poised to emerge as a leading market for solar energy generation. The commissioning of the system … marks an important step forward for the island of Kauai and the state,” says Angiolo Laviziano, CEO of REC Solar. “This first utility-scale solar farm on Kauai allows us the opportunity to determine and better understand the physical limitations of high penetration PV on a distribution circuit The recently commissioned solar farm in Kapaa is expected to produce enough energy to power nearly 300 homes for one year. and to work through some specific technicalities associated with adding large scale intermittent renewables to our generation mix,” adds David Bissell, KIUC acting president and CEO. Pending final approval from the Public Utility Commission, the system will produce an estimated 1.8 gigawatt hours of energy annually, which is enough energy to power close to 300 Kauai homes for one year. COMING IN JUNE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION We cover the current picture in Residential Construction – including a focus on green/ sustainable building. We also discuss what’s happening on the Painting scene – projects to new products. Our Guam report features residential projects with an update on the military buildup. And we include a valuable industry tool, the Hawaii Lumber Products Association (HLPA) Resource Guide. Call or e-mail today. 808.848.0711 Barry Redmayne, barry@tradepublishing.com Frank Hee, frank@tradepublishing.com Charlene Gray, charlene@tradepublishing.com Lita Fernando, litag@tradepublishing.com PLUS: • Brushing Up on Painting • HLPA Resource Guide • Guam APRIL 2011 | buILDINg INDustRY | 9

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Industry Magazine - April 2011

Building Industry - April 2011
Content
Datebook
City’s ‘Most Ambitious Project’ Breaks Ground
Kauai’s Koloa Landing Opens
BIA Show Generates Record Crowd
Kauai Solar Farm Complete
Zoo Gets New Entry
HIUSA Takes Greener Path
Contracts Awarded
Developers
Spotlight on Success: Keaukaha Military Reservation
Low Bids
Saddle Road Receives FHWA Award
ACECH Celebrates Engineering Excellence
Lumber & Wood
Inside the ABC
Concept to Completion: Kukuiula Plantation Core
Odd Hours, on Schedule
Best Practices: How “Cost Triggers” Protect Profit

Building Industry Magazine - April 2011