For Immediate Release
Monday, July 18, 2011Media Contact:
Char Chang, Bennet Group
Ph: 808-265-3493
Email: char@bennetgroup.com
Āina Koa Pono and AECOM Technology Corporation Announce Partnership to Develop $350 million Ka‘ū Energy Farm
Initial Fuel Delivery As Early as 2013
Honolulu, HI –‘Āina Koa Pono announced today that it has signed a master services agreement with AECOM Technology Corporation to provide engineering, procurement and construction management for its $350 million Ka‘ū Energy Farm on Hawai‘i Island. Under this agreement, AECOM will oversee the assessment of biomass conversion technology, purchase equipment and supervise construction of the project.
The 13,000 acre Ka‘ū Energy Farm will use the latest technology to transform bio-feedstocks, such as unwanted invasive plant species into usable energy products including biofuel, electricity and gasoline. The plant is being designed to produce 16 million gallons of synthetic biodiesel to meet the needs of the Hawaiian Electric Company.
“AECOM’s diverse portfolio of skills and extensive knowledge are unmatched in its industry and will be vital to the success of the Ka‘ū Energy Farm,” said an AKP Spokesperson. “We are very pleased that they are joining our efforts to decrease Hawai‘i's reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase our state’s energy independence.”
-more-“We are delighted to have a part in this significant effort on behalf of Hawai’i that will utilize our expertise in innovative technology to meet energy demands as well as our overall program and construction management skills,” said Lucy Labruzzo, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of AECOM’s U.S. Energy business. “We are committed to creating a world-class energy farm through an effective partnership with Aina Koa Pono and the combined strength of our professionals.
AECOM is a leading provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, but operates three offices in Hawai’i — two in Honolulu and one in Hilo. With these local ties and its international and multidiscipline experience, AECOM’s partnership will be essential in helping Hawai‘i reach its clean energy goal of meeting 70 percent of its electricity and ground transportation needs from clean, renewable energy sources by 2030.
Āina Koa Pono is a Hawai'i-based company co-founded by local business developers Dr. Melvin H. Chiogioji and Kenton Eldridge. The company is dedicated to the development and implementation of renewable energy solutions using innovative and proven technologies.
The company estimates the Ka‘ū Energy Farm will create a minimum of 300 construction jobs over the first two years and ultimately more than 100 permanent operation and farming jobs. Construction of the Ka‘ū Energy Farm is scheduled to begin early next year, with initial fuel delivery by mid-2013 and the processing facility in full commercial operation by the third quarter of 2013.
For more information about ‘Āina Koa Pono, visit www.ainakoapono.com
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About ‘Āina Koa Pono
‘Āina Koa Pono is a Hawai‘i-based company working to develop and implement new energy solutions to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. ‘Āina Koa Pono means “for the good of the land” in Hawaiian, the company specializes in design and construction of integrated processing facilities which will work with local businesses to produce bio-feedstocks to create energy products such as biofuel, electricity and gasoline. The ‘Āina Koa Pono team consists of several companies committed to the creation of clean, renewable energy in Hawaii, including MELE Associates, Inc., Eichleay Engineers of California, Inc., TekGar, LLC and Bionics Fuel Technologies AG.
