Proposer Name (Company name)

Pacific Green Ikehu LLC

Parent Company

SB Energy Corp.

Project Name

Kamaole Solar

Net AC Capacity of the Facility (MW)

40MW

Proposed Facility Location in / near what City / Area

Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, USA

TMK(s) of Facility Location

(2)2-2-002:050 & (2)2-2-002-001

Point of Interconnection's Circuit or Substation Name

Kealahou-Anwahi line

Project Description

Pacific Green Ikehu LLC is proposing to develop the Kamaole Solar Project, a 40 MW solar photovoltaic energy project paired with a 160 MWh battery energy storage on Maui.
The proposed project will occupy approximately 320 acres of Haleakala Ranch land in the Kamaole Ahupua'a of Maui.
The Tax Map Key (TMK) for the project is (2)2-2-002:001 as well as a portion of TMK (2)2-2-002:050. The project will interconnect to the circuit associated with the Kealahou-Anwahi line.

Project site map

Site layout plan

Interconnection route

Overall land use and environmental permits and approvals strategy

A comprehensive permitting strategy has been prepared to support project implementation. The proposed project is anticipated to require discretionary permit approval from the Maui Planning Commission (MPC) and various administrative approvals from State of Hawaii and County of Maui agencies. We will work with State and County agencies to proactively address issues, comply with applicable regulatory requirements, and process permit applications. In addition, community engagement efforts will be initiated from the outset and foster public input aligned with the permitting processes.

Gantt format schedule which identifies the sequencing of permit applications and approval activities and critical path. Schedule must be in MM/DD/YY format)

Schedule

City Zoning and Land Use Classification

The State land use classification for the Kamaole Solar Project site is "Agricultural." Based on the property's Land Study Bureau (LSB) classification, the proposed project is a permissible use in the State "Agricultural" district. A change in the State land use classification via a District Boundary Amendment is not required for the Kamaole Solar Project.

The County zoning for the project site is "Agricultural." A County Special Use Permit (CUP) is required for solar projects on "Agricultural" zoning districts which is obtained through an approval process of the Maui Planning Commission. A change in the County zoning district is not required for the Kamaole Solar Project.

Discretionary and non-discretionary Land use, environmental and construction permits and approvals

The following is a summary of Federal, State, and County regulatory permits needed for the project:
Permit List

Listing of Permits and approvals

Preliminary environmental assessment of the site (including any pre-existing environmental conditions)

Habitat. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Kamaole Solar Project site is not designated as a critical habitat area, i.e. an area designated that is essential for an endangered or threatened species to recover and that requires special management or protection.
Critical Habitat Map

Soil. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service (1972), soils within the project site belong to the Keawakapu-Makena association
Soil Association Map

The Keawakapu-Makena association is characterized by gently-sloping to moderately-steep, well-drained soils that have a fine-textured to medium-textured subsoil and are shallow to deep over fragmental lava on low uplands. This association is used for pasture and wildlife habitat. Wildlife consists of upland game birds. The specific soil types underlying the project site are Keawakapu extremely stony silty clay loam, 3 to 25 percent slopes (KNXD), Kamaole extremely stony silt loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes (KGLC) and very stony land (rVS).
Soil Classification Map

The Keawakapu series consists of well-drained, extremely-stony soils. These soils developed in volcanic ash. The surface layer, about 2 inches thick, is dark reddish-brown, extremely stony silt loam that has platy structure. The subsoil, about 16 inches thick, is dark reddish-brown, silty clay loam and silty clay that has prismatic and subangular blocky structure. KNXD is also characterized by moderate permeability, slow to medium runoff, and slight to moderate erosion hazard.

Agriculture. The State Department of Agriculture has established three (3) categories of Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH). The ALISH system classifies lands into "Prime", "Unique", and "Other Important Agricultural Land". The remaining lands are "Unclassified". Utilizing modern farming methods, "Prime" agricultural lands have the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained crop yields economically, while "Unique" agricultural lands possess a combination of soil quality, location, growing season, and moisture supply currently used to produce sustained high yields of a specific crop. "Other Important Agricultural Land" includes those which have not been rated as "Prime" or "Unique". The entire Kamaole Solar Project site has been defined as "Unclassified" by the ALISH rating system.
Agriculture Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii

The lands underlying the project have been designated as "E" by the University of Hawaii, Land Study Bureau in its Overall Productivity Rating classification. The "E" designation represents lands with the lowest productivity.
Land Study Bureau Overall Productivity Map

Based on the ALISH rating of "Unclassified" and the LSB rating of "E", the project site is not considered a prime location for agricultural use. Additionally, the project site is not located within lands designated as Important Agricultural Lands to the State of Hawaii. As such, the proposed project is not anticipated to have significant adverse impacts to agricultural endeavors in this region.

Flood and Tsunami Hazard. The Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for this area of the island designates the project area as being within Zone "X" (unshaded) and is not subject to the Flood Hazard District Ordinance, Chapter 19.62 of the Maui County Code
Flood Insurance Map

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) describes Flood Zone "X" to be areas of minimal flood hazard with no restrictions placed on development. Insurance purchase is not required in these zones. As previously noted, the project area is not located within a tsunami evacuation area (County of Maui, Civil Defense Agency, 2015). Further, the project site is located outside of the 3.2 feet Sea Level Rise Exposure Area (SLR-XA) as described in the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report (2017).

Proposer's updated Community Outreach Plan must include a plan that (1) identifies any cultural, historic or natural resources that will be impacted by the project (2) describes the potential impacts on these resources and 3) identifies measures to mitigate such impacts.

We contracted the services of Cultural Surveys Hawaii ("CSH"), a recognized consulting firm with offices in Maui and three other Hawaii counties. CSH performed a preliminary, archeological and cultural literature review for the proposed project site. The report states that the area could have been used traditionally for agriculture and temporary habitation. In depth cultural resource studies are planned and are expected to determine whether culturally significant assets are in the area. The area also has a long history of ranching activities that typically required the construction of walls, fences, corrals, reservoirs, and other structures that could be archaeologically or architecturally significant.

Community consultation is recommended to include residents of nearby residential subdivisions, DHHL representatives, or beneficiaries of the nearby Kēōkea agricultural lands, and regional representatives of the Aha Moku o Maui Council. A cultural impact assessment may also be required to identify any on-going cultural practices in the area and any potential impacts of the project to these practices. Pacific Green Ikehu LLC is committed to mitigation efforts that may be required as a result of further research and consultation and based on the initial findings and the expertise of CSH.

Detailed Community Outreach Plan

The Kamaole Solar Project will proactively reach out to and engage the community to listen for concerns and opportunities for support. Frequent and meaningful communication will be critical for minimizing impacts and maximizing the benefits of the project on a timely basis.
At this preliminary stage of the project we have obtained high-level support from Mayor Victorino's administration and Haleakala Ranch. We have had extensive conversations with the ranch management on the importance of their deep roots in Maui, the trust and respect they have earned over their 132-year history, and their desire to work closely with the community on this project. We have reached out to other county officials and community leaders as well, who have also expressed interest in the project and are eager to learn more through our community outreach process.
We have retained a Maui-based firm to assist with our goals for engaging with the community. They will be actively interviewing individuals and groups for their perspectives on renewable energy, projects in general and specifically their views on the Kamaole Solar Project.

As our outreach progresses, we will be asking Maui residents about what they feel are the most pressing needs in the community. We will use this information to develop a community benefits plan that will be in place for the 25-year life of the project.

Local community support or opposition

Community outreach efforts

Community benefits