The proposed project will be in compliance with all applicable permitting processes. As the long-term owner and operator of the project, Ameresco, Inc. and Bright Canyon Energy Corporation are committed to serving as a good steward of the environment and community.
Project facilities would be located on land leased from the Navy in accordance with its policies and procedures. Because the property is owned by the Navy, the proposed facilities would be subject to federal requirements and any other applicable requirements.
City Zoning and Land Use Classification
Generally, given the proposed project is located on federal land it is not subject to state or local land use planning or zoning considerations.
City & County of Honolulu Zoning: F-1 (military and federal), AG-2 (general agriculture), R-5 (residential)
State Land Use Designation: Agriculture, Urban on federal land
Discretionary and Non-Discretionary Land Use, Environmental and Construction Permits and Approvals
Given the proposed project is located on federal land, these permitting requirements will be addressed through the federal permitting process.
Permits and Approvals
The proposed project will be designed in compliance with permitting requirements, including:
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- The Clean Air Act
- The Clean Water Act
- Endangered Species Act
- The National Historic Preservation Act
- Hawaiʻi Coastal Zone Management Program
- Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board
| Permit or Consultation |
Agency or Stakeholders |
Complete |
| National Environmental Policy Act – Memorandum for Record |
Department of the Navy |
✔ |
| National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation |
State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division |
✔ |
| National Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation |
United States Fish and Wildlife Service |
✔ |
| Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
De minimis acknowledgment |
State of Hawai‘i, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program |
✔ |
| Notice of General Permit Coverage (NGPC) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) |
State Department of Health, Clean Water Branch |
|
| Explosives Safety – Quantity Distance Review |
Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board |
|
Preliminary Assessment
Given the scope of the project, it would not result in an incremental change to land use patterns or redevelopment activities. Impacts to biological resources or cultural resources are not anticipated, as no sensitive resources are expected to be present within the proposed project area.
Short-term construction impacts include those related to increased dust, erosion and noise, which will have mitigation efforts. The related actions in the project vicinity are expected to result in similar types of impacts, with similar mitigation work. It is expected that these temporary construction-related impacts will not create substantial adverse impacts.
The proposed project would not lead to secondary or indirect changes to land use and development on O‘ahu as renewable energy is generally a substitute for energy that would otherwise be generated through other means, such as fossil fuels.
Cultural Resource Impacts
ASM Affiliates conducted background research with respect to the proposed development of energy facilities within these Navy lands in Honouliuli Ahupua‘a, ‘Ewa District. This research included an archival review of existing historic preservation reports and historical maps, as well as a review of traditional cultural information relative to the current study area. Further activities will be conducted to include field inspections and consultation interviews.
Extensive modern-day studies have been conducted in the area, beginning in 1977 through 2017, as parts of larger study areas associated with both former U.S. Naval activities and an earlier proposed solar development project. The collective results of these studies report that the bulk, but not all, of the current proposed project area has been investigated for the presence of archaeological sites.
The proposed site underwent an archaeological study in 2015, including surface survey and subsurface testing. No traditional Hawaiian sites were identified. It was concluded that the extensive use of the land during historic and modern times destroyed any earlier sites that may have been present. Six Historic Period sites were discovered and recorded, but none were evaluated as significant.