SP17-408 AES Lawa‘i Solar, LLC

Tax Map Key: (4)-2-6-003:001 (portion)
Kōloa and Lāwa`i, Kona, Kaua`i, Hawai`i

Status

An application for a State Special Permit to construct and operate a solar energy facility within the State Agricultural District was filed with Kaua`i County on August 17, 2017.  The Kaua`i Planning Commission considered and approved the application, subject to 21 conditions, on September 26, 2017.

The application for a State Special Permit is tentatively scheduled for hearing in Kaua`i on November 8-9, 2017.  The application is currently under review by staff.  We are awaiting the County filing approved minutes for its meeting where the State Special Permit was approved and recommended to the LUC.

Background

 The applicant, AES Lawa`i Solar, proposes to construct and operate a solar energy facility on the subject property, an approximately 196.33 acre portion of the 1,062.291 acre parcel, in Kōloa and Lāwa`i, Kaua`i.  The parcel is owned by McBryde Sugar Company, LLC, which has granted the applicant easements to operate the solar facility on the property.  The solar facility will produce approximately 28 Megawatts (Mw) to be sold to Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) under a 25-year power purchase agreement.  The proposed project will also incorporate a battery storage system.

LUC Notices and OrdersPetitioner FilingState Office of Planning & Sustainable Development (OPSD) FilingsCorrespondenceAnnual Reports

Application for Special Use Permit to Establish a Solar Energy Facility on Approximately 196.33 acres of land within the State Land Use Agriculture District at Kōloa and Lāwa`i, Kona, Kaua`i, Hawai`i

Full Record of Kauai County Planning Commission’s September 26, 2017 action in the above referenced application for a Special Permit pursuant to Section 205-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes

AES LAWA’I SOLAR, LLC WITNESS LIST

AES LAWA’I SOLAR, LLC EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit 1  AES Lawa’i Solar, LLC Application

Exhibit A  Applicant’s Authorization

Exhibit B  Owner’s Authorization

Exhibit C-1  Proposed Project Location Map

Exhibit C-2  Project Area Map

Exhibit C-3  Tax Map Key (TMK) Parcels Map

Exhibit C-4  Ahupua`a Boundary Map

Exhibit C-5  State Land Use Districts Map

Exhibit C-6  County Zoning Map

Exhibit C-7  County General Plan Map

Exhibit C-8  NRCS Soil Survey Classification Map

Exhibit C-9   Land Study Bureau (LSB) Classification Map

Exhibit C-10  Flood Hazard Zones Map

Exhibit C-11  Panel 0311E Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)  9/16/2005

Exhibit C-12  Panel 0311F Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)  11/26/2010

Exhibit D  Adjacent Property Index

Exhibit E-1  Site Plan

Exhibit E-2  Overall Site Plan

Exhibit E-3  Standard Tracker Structural Elevations

Exhibit E-4  Oasis 3

Exhibit E-5  Biological Resources Survey Report (June 2017)

Exhibit E-6  Drainage Concept (August 2017)

Exhibit E-7  AES Press Release (January 10, 2017)

Exhibit E-8  Omao Farms Sheep Grazing Operation and Agricultural Plan (August 2, 2017)

Exhibit E-9  Endangered Species Recommendations (August 3, 2017)

Exhibit F-1  Proposed Project Location

Exhibit F-2  Unlabeled photo

Exhibit F-3  Unlabeled photo

Exhibit 2  Supplement To Application

Exhibit E-10  Sunpower Panel Specifications

Exhibit E-11  Sunpower Letter

Exhibit E-12  Sunpower Glare and Reflectance Report

Exhibit E-13  Glare Analysis Results

Exhibit 3  Planning Department General Class III And IV Requirements Checklist

Exhibit 4  Department of Planning Standard Zoning Permit Application (8/16/17)

Exhibit 5  Notice of Public Hearing Notification Procedures

Exhibit 6  Publication Notice (8/22/17)

Exhibit  7  Written Notice to Adjoining Landowners (8/25/17)

Exhibit 8  Certified Mail Receipts (140)

Exhibit 9   Affidavit As To Mailing Of Notice; Exhibits “A” & “B”

Exhibit 10  Notice Letter To Mr. Daniel E. Orodenker, State Land Use Commission (8/24/17)

Exhibit 11  Notice Letter to Mr. Leo R. Asuncion, State Office of Planning (8/24/17)

Exhibit 12  Notice Letter To Mr. Scott Enright, State Department of Agriculture (8/24/17)

Exhibit 13  Planning Director’s Report (9/7/17)

Exhibit 14  Planning Commission Agenda (Director’s Report) (9/12/17)

Exhibit 15  Supplement #1 To Planning Director’s Report (9/19/17)

Exhibit 16  Planning Commission Agenda (/9/26/17)

Petitioner’s Expert Witness Resumes (Exhibits 17 – 25)

Exhibit 17  Resume of Rob Cooper

Exhibit 18  Resume of Cameron Haughey, C.E.M.

Exhibit 19  Resume of Brad W. Rockwell

Exhibit 20  Resume of Dennis M. Esaki

Exhibit 21  Resume of Hallett H. Hammatt, Ph.D.

Exhibit 22  Resume of Theodore K. Blake

Exhibit 23  Resume of Jaap Eijzenga, M.S.

Exhibit 24  Resume of Reginald E. David

Exhibit 25  Resume of Daryl W. Kaneshiro

Exhibit 26  Archaeological Inventory Survey Report (Cultural Surveys Hawaii, Inc., September 2017)

Exhibit 27  Letter from Susan A. Lebo, Ph.D., State Historic Preservation Division (9/15/17)

Exhibit 28  Cultural Impact Assessment Report (Cultural Surveys Hawaii, Inc. September 2017)

Exhibit 29  Letter from Hallett H. Hammatt, Ph. D. (9/22/17)

Exhibit 30  Applicant’s Proposed Findings Of Fact, Conclusions Of Law, And Decision And Order

Exhibit 31  Video Tour Simulation can be viewed below.

Exhibit 32  Planning Department File AES Lawa’i Solar Project Use Permit No. 2018‑1, Class IV Zoning Permit No. Z-IV-2018-1, Special Permit SP-2018-2

Exhibit 33  Site Plan

Exhibit 34  Overall Site Plan

Exhibit 35  AES Lawa’i Solar Site

Exhibit 36  U. S. Fish & Wildlife Services Comments

Exhibit 37  Supplement #2 To Planning Director’s Report

Exhibit 38  Detailed Land Classification Over-all Productivity Rating

Transcripts from Kaua`i Planning Commission’s September 26, 2017 meeting

Copy of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decision and Order of the Kaua`i County Planning Commission

APPLICANT’S PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND DECISION AND ORDER APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI PLANNING COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE STATE SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION WITH MODIFICATIONS (11/14/17)

 

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