SP21-412 Mahi Solar
SP21-412 Mahi Solar Project
Mahi Solar, LLC (Petitioner) proposes to construct a 120-megawatt (MW) solar energy generation facility, a 480-megawatt-hour battery energy storage facility to address peak energy demand, and accessory support infrastructure and uses (together referred to as the Project) on 620.0 acres (Petition Area). The Project was selected as part of the Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) Stage 2 renewable energy projects. The contract with HECO is expected to last 25 years with an option to extend 10 years for a total Project operational life of 35 years. The time period for the Special Use Permit (SUP) will include two years for permitting and construction and another two years for decommissioning of the Project at the end of the operational life, for a total of 39 years.
The Petition Area (Exhibit 1) is spread across five general Project areas (Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) which currently are configured in the initial Project design as 12 non-contiguous solar array areas (SAAs) [1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3, 4A, 4B, 4C (two sites), and 5 9three sites)]. The Project will primarily consist of roughly 370,000 ground-mounted photovoltaic (PC) panels installed on 4,300 single-axis trackers aligned in a north-south direction. The trackers will rotate in order to follow the sun during the day to maximize solar exposure.
The Commission tentatively expects to hear this on September 9, 2021. Details on the meeting to follow.
C & C of Honolulu- Planning Commission Filings:
| Exhibit | Description |
| 1 | G70’s transmittal, transmitting Master Application form dated and the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP)date-stamped December 23, 2020 with owner signatures, two hard copies and one CD of Mahi Solar LLC Special Use Permit (SUP) Application, and $15,000 application fee. |
| 2 | Copy of Initial Mahi Solar SUP Application. |
| 3 | DPP Environmental Checklist and TMK Report. |
| 4 | The February 5, 2021 DPP letter requesting for more information before Application Acceptance. |
| 5 | G70’s March 5, 2021 letter of transmittal responding to DPP comments of February 5, 2021. |
| 6 | Revised Mahi Solar SUP Application received March 5, 2021. |
| 7 | The DPP acceptance letter dated April 9, 2021 to Tracy Camuso of G70. Enclosure includes Receipt No. 130633. |
| 8 | Notice of Application dated April 9, 2021, Location Map, and Project Summary. |
| 9 | Memo(s) to City, State, Federal Agencies, Community Organizations, Elected Officials and Other Interested Parties from DPP, dated April 9, 2021 requesting comments. Memos included a link to the copy of the application for SUP, summary description and location map of the project. Letters to the Chairs of the Ewa/Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale and Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Neighborhood Boards dated April 9, 2021 and to the Waipahu Neighborhood Board Chair dated April 21, 2021 including SUP app download URL info. |
| 10 | Copy of mailing labels, including agencies, organizations, and Councilmember’s who were mailed the Notice of Application. |
| 11 | Agency comments on the SUP Application from the State Agribusiness Development Corporation; Energy Office, Land Use Commission, Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Office of Planning; City and County of Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Department of Design and Construction, Department of Environmental Services, Department of Facility Maintenance, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Transportation Services; the United States Army Corps of Engineers; the Hawaii Historic Foundation; State Senator Kurt Favella; and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center. |
| 12 | Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) Report and Recommendation to the Planning Commission, Special Use Permit (SUP) Petition File No. 2020/SUP-7, Mahi Solar, LLC, May 20, 2021. |
| 13 | PC Stamped Transmittal Letter of Director’s Report |
| 14 | Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) Report and Recommendation to the Planning Commission, Special Use Permit (SUP) Petition File No. 2020/SUP-7, Mahi Solar, LLC, Attachments A – D, May 20, 2021 |
| 15 | Mahi Solar Project SUP Application (March 2020 Revised) w/CD, from G70 to the Planning Commission, Parts 1 – 7, May 18, 2021 |
| 16 | Applicant’s First List of Witnesses; First List of Exhibits; Exhibits “1” – “16”; Certificate of Service; Applicant’s Exhibits “17”-“36”; and DVD, McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP, June 16, 2021 |
| 17 | Applicant’s Second List of Exhibits; Exhibits “37” – “44”; Certificate of Service, and DVD, June 21, 2021 |
| 18 | MEMO to Planning Commission from DPP, comments from agencies after Director’s Report, June 21, 2021 |
| 19 | Planning Commission June 23, 2021 Notice of Public Hearing |
| 20 | Planning Commission June 23, 2021 Notice of Public Hearing Mail-out Labels |
| 21 | Planning Commission June 23, 2021 Agenda |
| 22 | Planning Commission June 23, 2021 Agenda Mail-out Labels |
| 23 | Planning Commission June 23, 2021 Minutes Summary |
| 24 | Planning Commission June 23, 2021 Transcript |
| 25 | Applicant’s Third List of Exhibits; Exhibit “45”; Certificate of Service, June 23, 2021 |
| 26 | Handout from DPP to Planning Commission, Clarification by the Petitioner to the DPP Director’s Recommendations (Ramseyer and Final Version), June 23, 2021 |
| 27 | MEMO to Planning Commission from DPP, submittal of comment letter Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience (OCCSR), June 25, 2021 (late – not considered by PC) |
| 28 | Planning Commission Written Testimonies (Hawaii State Energy Office, SOH, June 16, 2021; and Dept. of Agriculture, SOH, June 21, 2021 |
| 29 | Planning Commission [Proposed] Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decision and Order, July 20, 2021 |
| 30 | Planning Commission July 29, 2021 Agenda |
| 31 | Planning Commission July 29, 2021 Agenda Mail-out Labels |
| 32 | Planning Commission Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Decision and Order, State Special Use Permit Petition (SUP) No. 2020/SUP-7, Mahi Solar, LLC; Exhibit “A”, adopted July 29, 2021 |
| 33 | Planning Commission July 29, 2021 Minutes Summary |
| 34 | Planning Commission August 4, 2021 Agenda |
| 35 | Planning Commission August 4,2021 Mail-out Labels |
| 36 | Planning Commission transmittal of record letter to the State Land Use Commission, August 6, 2021, with enclosed Index of Records, File No. 2020/SUP-7, Mahi Solar, LLC, and CD |
OPSD Recommendation letter to LUC (09/07/21) (09/07/21)
Department of Agriculture:
Hawaii State Energy Office (09/03/21)
Ulupono Initiative (09/03/21)
Pacific Resource Partnership (09/07/2021)
Hawaiian Electric (09/07/2021)