First Alternative Energy Festival planned for January

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will help I Aloha Moloka’i with a $92,500 grant to support the first Alternative Energy Festival on Molokai Jan. 13 and 14.

Kanoho Helm signs up people to join the group I Aloha Molokai in their efforts to stop Big Wind. IAM will sponor Molokai's first Alternative Energy Festival Jan. 13 and 14.

The event, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mitchell Pau’ole Center, will look at different ways to reduce Molokai’s dependence on fossil fuels. The grant money will be used to bring off-island speakers to Molokai as well as help with staging events.

I Aloha Moloka’i has been organizing local opposition to big wind power projects since late spring. In June, a mailer was sent to all Molokai residents and the website ialohamolokai.com launched. The group has consistently fought the project to transmit 400-megawatts of wind-generated electricity from Lanai and Molokai to Oahu via an undersea cable.

The festival will feature saving energy workshops. Exhibitors and contractors will display energy saving devices. Information and strategies to help small businesses and homes will also be available. The event will also feature music, both local and off-island, food and kid booths.

For more information, call Cheryl Corbiell at 553-9009 or send email to IAlohaMolokai@gmail.com.