It's a bold plan, tossed in the mix as Hawai'i moves toward a more viable alternative energy future.

The Marines announced plans to build the Hawai'i's largest photovoltaic solar farm and biofuel electricity-producing plant on its Kane'ohe base. Both projects would not only meet, but exceed the Marine's power needs by 2015, the plan's proponents say.

It's precisely the right message and effort that's needed from one of the state's largest energy consumers — with a sensible end-goal: energy self-sufficiency.

As The Advertiser's military writer William Cole reported, the multi-megawatt solar project should be started in the fall of 2009 and be generating power about six months thereafter.

The biofuel plant — run mainly on locally grown sugarcane, palm oil or similar products — should be developed sometime near 2015.

The Marine Corps base's power needs are estimated at 13 to 20 megawatts. Power generation from both projects should exceed that, with the military eventually able to produce enough power to sell back to HECO.

What's more encouraging is that this project is part of a wide range of renewable and alternative energy efforts by the military in Hawai'i — Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines — that will be pursued here in the coming years. The Navy will oversee the collective "request for proposals" for the energy projects.

"We take our role of environmental stewardship very seriously. Protection of our environment is an integral part of accomplishing our Navy mission in Hawai'i, and we are integrating sound environmental practices into all our operations and business decisions," says Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, commander, Navy Region Hawai'i. "By reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and relying more on renewable energy sources we not only contribute to a better environment and reduce reliance on imported oil, but also increase our national security."

Reducing our dependence of foreign oil and its corresponding vulnerabilities is long overdue. Hawai'i, with its rich abundance of natural resources including wind, sun and ocean, is uniquely positioned to be a leader in alternative energy production.

In addition to the new projects coming on line, the military has several additional projects underway. Among them:

• Hickam Air Force Base boasts a hydrogen-production plant for hydrogen-powered vehicles.

• Photovoltaics on two barracks at the Marine base are producing 65 kilowatts, with plans for more on the way; the Navy has a 309-kilowatt photovoltaic array on Ford Island, and has plans for several other PV projects.

• Wave energy continues to be tested via the military's PowerBuoy, positioned about a mile offshore. Ocean waves move the buoy's pistons, driving a generator that produces electricity.

• The Navy is planning a biofueled power plant and looking at salt-water cooling technology for some of its buildings.

All of these efforts, along with the state's partnership with the Department of Energy that seeks to supply 70 percent of Hawai'i's energy needs through clean or renewable sources by 2030, keeps us on the right path to a green and more sustainable future. That's a goal we cannot afford to lose sight of.