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Posted: Monday, December 1st, 2008 4:47 AM HST

Marines plans solar and biofuel power generation

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ The Marine Corps wants its sprawling base at Kaneohe Bay to become energy self-sufficient by 2015. Its plan involves building a sizable solar power array around Kansas Tower Hill, which could be online by next fall. The plan also includes an electricity generating plant that will run primarily on locally grown biofuels, such as sugar cane or palm oil, or jet fuel in emergencies. The Corps' effort is one of several that military branches are studying for bases in Hawaii. The services pooled projects they have in mind, which will form a request for proposal to be issued next year. The military currently uses about 15 percent of the power generated by the Hawaiian Electric Co., and is the utility's biggest customer. (Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved)