KIUC Receives First Delivery of Locally Produced Biodiesel

June 28, 2023

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) today received its first delivery of locally produced biodiesel as part of its new fuel supply contract executed last month with Pacific Biodiesel Technologies. Under the agreement, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, owner and operator of the biodiesel refinery on Hawai‘i Island, will supply biodiesel for KIUC to be used to partially fuel its 27.5 megawatt Kapaia Power Generation Station. The liquid-fuel-fired combined cycle power generation facility is KIUC’s largest generator.

“This biodiesel contract allows KIUC to test the use of biodiesel storage and use at its generating stations while further reducing the use of fossil fuel for electricity generation. In the future, biodiesel may be a critical source of renewable energy as part of KIUC’s accelerated pathway to 100% renewable energy by 2033, which is more than a decade earlier than the State of Hawai‘i’s mandated timeline of 2045,” said KIUC President and Chief Executive Officer David Bissell. “We are pleased to source this 100% renewable fuel from Pacific Biodiesel. Supporting local biodiesel production helps ensure greater energy security for our island state.”

In a press release issued last month, KIUC reported it continues to lead the state in renewable power generation: achieving 60.2% renewable for 2022. In addition, KIUC recorded the lowest electricity rates for all the islands for the past 12 months, attributed to its high percentage of renewables.

Solar contributed 39.8% of KIUC’s generation in 2022. Other renewables contributing in 2022 were hydro (10.7%) and biomass (9.8%).

“Kaua‘i is a shining example for the world to see that a 100% renewable future is achievable, especially for vulnerable island communities that are on the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Pacific Biodiesel Founder and President Robert King.

Founded on Maui in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel annually produces more than 5.5 million gallons of premium distilled biodiesel at its refinery on Hawai‘i Island. Biodiesel is produced primarily from used cooking oil that Pacific Biodiesel recycles from restaurants statewide, including those on Kaua‘i. Pacific Biodiesel’s founders are also farming sunflowers and other crops as a feedstock for local biodiesel production and for the production of culinary oils and animal feed, supporting greater energy security and food security in Hawai‘i. “Pacific Biodiesel is the poster child for the circular economy, using local resources and creating local jobs to produce products for our local community,” King said.

Earlier this year, members of the KIUC team toured the Pacific Biodiesel refinery on Hawai‘i Island. “We enjoyed showing them our processing plant and the quality of biodiesel that they will be receiving. We are excited to have them as new partners,” said Pacific Biodiesel Director of Operations Jenna Long.

KIUC employs 142 people on Kaua‘i; Pacific Biodiesel has nearly 100 employees statewide, with more than 50 of those employees working at its Keaau refinery.

About KIUC

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative was formed in November of 2002 and is one of America’s newest electric cooperatives; one of approximately 900 electric cooperatives serving electric consumers in 48 states. KIUC operates as a not-for-profit organization that is owned by its members and governed by an elected board of directors. KIUC’s electric generation fleet is capable of producing up to 235.9 megawatts (MW) of electricity with all conventional and renewable generation sources combined. The cooperative is committed to making energy more affordable by reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and increasing its use of renewable energy sources. KIUC is making significant progress toward its goal of using renewable resources to generate 100 percent of Kaua‘i’s power by 2033. Learn more here.

About Pacific Biodiesel

Founded on Maui in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel is the nation’s longest operating biodiesel producer and established the first retail biodiesel pump in America. Today with nearly 100 employees statewide, the company is the only commercial producer of liquid biofuels in Hawai‘i. Throughout its history, Pacific Biodiesel's mission has remained constant: to promote a clean, sustainable energy future through the community-based production of renewable fuels. With a nameplate production capacity of 5.5 million gallons annually, Pacific Biodiesel's refinery on Hawai‘i Island utilizes state-of-the art distillation technology to produce premium distilled biodiesel, sold entirely in Hawai‘i. The company has always focused on recycling with a zero-waste philosophy that incorporates development of value-added coproducts. Its collaborative, community-based “agriculture and energy” production model demonstrates a circular economy approach to fighting climate change and helps Hawai‘i achieve a clean, sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.biodiesel.com.