Electric Plant a Sore Point on Big Island
There’s tension on the Big Island between some residents who moved into lots at Pepeekeo and the company that wants to burn eucalyptus from the North Hilo-Hamakua Coast to generate power. An old plantation power plant that has been shut down since 2004 is undergoing a $70 million upgrade, with new emissions controls, but some residents are concerned about the impact of the burning of fuel on their health. The company behind the plant, Hu Honua, touts the plant as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. It would add 21.5 megawatts to the island’s power grid. But some neighbors call that “greenwashing.”
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