A renewable energy transmission company is using NCCOS products to help assess routing alternatives for a proposed undersea energy transmission cable into Maalaea Bay, Maui. The requested products predict the distribution of light-dependent “mesophotic” corals that live off the coast of Maui and could potentially be threatened by an undersea energy transmission cable system. The cable system under consideration would allow renewable wind power generated in Maui County – which includes the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawee – to be transmitted to Oahu for consumption, contributing to Hawaii’s 2030 goal to have 40 percent of its electricity sales come from renewable energy. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary originally partnered with NCCOS to develop the coral distribution prediction products.
For more information about this project, please contact Bryan Costa or Matt Kendall.