COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Economic
The plant will help to reduce the volatility in the price of electricity by weakening the link between electricity and oil prices.

Environmental
Hu Honua’s bioenergy plant will benefit the environment, as the power generated by the facility will displace power from old, oil-burning power plants, thereby reducing the overall level of pollution in the Hilo area. And, since the plant is carbon neutral, it will not contribute to global warming. Hu Honua’s facility will also be fueled by locally collected and grown biomass material and non-mulchable wood material that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

Employment
Hu Honua currently employs four full-time employees and six contracted security personnel. Approximately 100 workers will be needed for construction and roughly 120 jobs for indirect support of the plant including harvesting and hauling feedstock. There will be 28 to 30 full-time jobs for plant operations.

Improved Infrastructure
Hu Honua will improve the current infrastructure around the plant by making roadway improvements and working with road owners to establish safe walking and bike paths.