First Wind, an independent U.S. based wind energy company, announced today that trucks with oversized trailers will start transporting wind turbine components from Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor to First Wind’s wind project site north of Haleiwa beginning on June 25. Deliveries will be made during late evening and early morning hours to minimize traffic disruptions.
Each delivery will have a police escort. Traffic may be stopped momentarily as the trucks navigate certain intersections along the delivery route. Otherwise, no extended lane closures or adjustments to ongoing traffic are expected.
“We are making every effort to ensure that this transport is done with minimal traffic disruptions,” said Kekoa Kaluhiwa, First Wind director for external affairs. “We truly appreciate everyone’s patience throughout this process.”
First Wind is coordinating the transport operation with the State Department of Transportation, the Honolulu Police Department and other organizations along the delivery route.
Deliveries will be limited to evening hours: Mondays through Fridays from 10pm – 5am. No oversized loads will be transported on Sundays or holidays. The project schedule calls for the deliveries to continue through August.
The turbine blade, tower and nacelle components will be transported on different routes based upon the dimensions of each component and maneuverability with overhanging trees, electrical and telephone lines and bridges. From Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, all components will be transported onto H-1 east.
Blade section deliveries will exit H-1 east onto H-2 north; continue on H-2 north to Wilikina Drive; right onto Kamananui Road and continuing on Highway 99 and Kamehameha Highway to the project site.
Tower section deliveries will exit H-1 east by taking exit 8 onto Kamehameha Highway west; right turn onto Ka Uka Boulevard; left onto H-2 north; continuing on H-2 north to Wilikina Drive; right onto Kamananui Road and continuing on Highway 99 and Kamehameha Highway to the project site.
Nacelle section deliveries will exit H-1 east at the Kunia Road exit; continue on Kunia Road and left onto Wilikina Drive; right onto Kamananui Road and continuing on Highway 99 and Kamehameha Highway to the project site.
First Wind broke ground on the wind project on February 24. Kawailoa Wind’s 69 megawatts of generating capacity will be enough clean, renewable energy to power the equivalent of 14,500 Oahu homes, and could supply as much as 5-10% of the island’s electrical load. The project includes thirty Siemens state-of-the-art turbines that will be installed on land owned by Kamehameha Schools, between 1 – 3 miles mauka of Kamehameha Highway between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa town. The project is expected to be in operation by the end of 2012.
Kawailoa Wind is expected to reduce oil consumption by 304,200 barrels of oil on Oahu per year, which in turn would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 134,400 tons on an annual basis. When completed, the project will be Hawaii’s largest wind energy project to date, and the fourth in the state for First Wind, which also built the wind farm in Kahuku and two others on Maui.