Kuihelani Solar + Storage Project

Community outreach

AES is deeply committed to being an active, invested member of the communities we serve. 

Collaboration and engagement

Throughout the process, AES has and will continue to engage and listen carefully to community feedback on the Project. Specific issues identified by the community thus far are actively being addressed and we continue to seek input to ensure we are responsibly examining concerns.

Culture and archaeology

AES recognizes we have a responsibility to respectfully address the issues and perspectives of the Native Hawaiian community early in the process. With this understanding, we started the Project by undertaking the following actions: 

• Consultation with Lineal and Cultural Descendants – One of the earliest outreach efforts we undertook was consultation with lineal and cultural descendants and the Maui Lanai Islands Burial Council to identify issues and concerns, especially those related to iwi kupuna. 

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – In consultation with descendants and the Burial Council, the Kuihelani Solar + Storage Project is one of Maui’s first projects to utilize Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to identify subsurface anomalies. 

• Archaeological Inventory Survey (AIS) and Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) – An AIS and CIA have been conducted in consultation with descendants and the State Historic Preservation Division. A preliminary report has been presented to the Maui Lāna‘i Islands Burial Council, and an archaeological monitoring plan (AMP) is being prepared which outlines the plan for on-site monitoring during excavation and other ground-disturbing activities during construction to ensure archaeological resources are protected during the development of the Project. 

Traffic

AES is committed to minimizing our impacts on Maui commuters.

• Minimal Operational Vehicles and Traffic – Upon completion, only 2-4 vehicles per day will be required to operate and maintain the Project. 

• Construction Traffic Management Plan – During the construction phase, a traffic management plan will be implemented to minimize traffic impacts. 

• Traffic Impact Analysis Report (TIAR) – A full Traffic Impact Analysis Report (TIAR) is being developed for the Project. The analysis concluded that the construction of the Project will not adversely impact the traffic in the area. 

Fire and safety

Brushfires are a significant community concern and AES takes this issue very seriously.

• Fire Suppression – Each battery storage container is equipped with a fire suppression system that will minimize the risk of fire from Project components.

• Firebreaks – A non-vegetated firebreak will encircle the Project area as well as each battery storage area to further reduce fire risk.

• Vegetation Management – AES will actively maintain the vegetation on-site to minimize the risk of brushfires spreading through the property.

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Visual impacts and project footprint

Community members have raised visual impacts and minimizing the land utilized as important considerations.

• Sensitive Siting – As much as possible, the Project has been designed and laid out to reduce visual impacts, especially along Kuihelani Highway and Maui Veterans Highway.

• Reduction in Project footprint - Use of a more efficient PV panel has enabled the reduction of the project area and an increased distance from nearby communities and Kuihelani Highway in an effort to minimize impact to neighboring residents to the greatest extent possible, and to utilize the least amount of land practicable.  

• Landscaping – Where practicable, landscaping will be incorporated to further reduce visual impacts. 

• Visual Simulations and View Planes – To better understand the visual impacts and to assist with refinement of the location of project components in order to minimize the impacts to commuters and residents, AES has prepared renderings to simulate views of the project from various vantage points. 

• Glare –A glare analysis has been conducted from key observation points to minimize and mitigate impacts to commuters, residents, and air traffic. The analysis concluded the project will not produce glint or glare to commuters, air traffic, or nearby communities. 

Agricultural use

Community feedback indicated agriculture was a priority, along with clean energy.

• Avoiding highly productive soil – the Project has been designed to avoid the most productive agricultural soil and is sited on LSB Class E soils.

• Compatible use – AES is actively exploring agricultural partnerships that would be compatible with solar and promote healthy soil and local food security.