Wind Farms Sped Up On Molokai And Lanai

It's unclear when the wind projects would be completed. Previous estimates stated they could take more than five years, but the state is trying to get them done sooner than that.

Contracts to sell the power to Hawaiian Electric, which would then distribute it across Oahu, will require approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.

The integration of renewable energy into Hawaii's electric grids is a key part of the state's clean energy initiative, which seeks to have 70 percent of its energy come from clean sources by 2030.

Henry Curtis of the environmental group Life of the Land said he supports creating more renewable energy, but he questioned why it needs to be built on other islands with expensive sea cables needed to bring it to Oahu.

Curtis said the island could generate its own power through wind, solar and wave energy.

But Gov. Linda Lingle's administration argued a power grid linking the islands together would increase reliability and security while saving money.

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On the Net:

First Wind: http://www.firstwind.com/

Castle & Cooke Hawaii: http://www.castle-cooke.com/

Hawaiian Electric Company: http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco