ENVIRONMENT

Honua Ola Bioenergy is committed to a clean, renewable energy facility for Hawaiʻi Island residents.

Two women hike along a Hawaii trial, looking up at the trees

Environmental Sustainability and Resilience

Honua Ola aligns with the values of residents, especially in the Pepeʻekeo and Hāmākua areas. The project:

  • Promotes the use of renewable resources, while minimizing the environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels.
  • Supports the economic and social priorities of Hawaiʻi Island by creating local jobs, enhancing energy equity and fostering community involvement in sustainable energy initiatives.
  • Transitions Hawaiʻi Island away from fossil fuel.
  • Is compliant with environmental regulations and equipped with advanced emissions control technology to ensure low environmental impact.

By addressing these critical concerns, Honua Ola can play a vital role in advancing Hawaiʻi Island’s transition to a more affordable, reliable and sustainable energy future.

Rear view of a man's helmet with the Honua Ola logo

Honua Ola recognizes and responds to concerns raised by individuals and groups.

Other Renewable Sources

Because Honua Ola helps maintain grid stability, more intermittent power sources can actually be added, without risking power shortages and blackouts.

Electricity Costs/Rates

Honua Ola assures that it will be a stable power generator on the system compared to fossil-fuel and biofuel power plants on Hawai‘i Island.

Environmental Impact

The commercial crops of eucalyptus on the Hāmākua Coast are not natural forests and were planted for commercial harvesting. Honua Ola will assure all crops are expertly managed, harvested and replanted utilizing industry best practices. The vegetation management program will also help in reducing wildfire risk.

Organic Ash

The organic ash produced by the facility will be a high-quality soil supplement used in agriculture and possesses many well-known benefits, such as improving soil fertility, promoting root development and increasing crop yields.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The facility’s state-of-the-art emission control system will continuously neutralize particulate matter that is emitted, including nitrous and sulfur oxides. Particulate matter is removed by the dust collector, which is part of this system. Carbon dioxide emitted from the stack is offset through sequestration by tree crops that Honua Ola will regrow and plant, as well as extensive tree planting, including native species, which will grow in perpetuity.

Traffic/Transportation

Honua Ola is committed to being a good neighbor to residents in the area of the facility. Sensitive to potential noise concerns, trucks delivering material to Honua Ola will only do so between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and drivers will not be using air brakes on Sugar Mill Road. Honua Ola will also provide significant financial contributions annually to the Sugar Mill Road Maintenance Fund to help ensure the roadway serving the area remains in a quality condition for all users.

Water Usage

Honua Ola’s operations utilize wells that draw out non-drinking water from the saltwater aquifer at a depth of 1,300-feet below sea level. This water is then circulated in a closed loop through the facility’s cooling system before being returned to the saltwater aquifer at a depth of 800-feet below the surface. This cooling system process is safe and has been approved by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, which will monitor its operation on an ongoing basis.