Kauai Utility unveiled plans today for one of the largest solar farms on the islands.

If approved by local and state regulators, construction on the $40 million project could begin next summer.

"The impact for Kauai, for a project that size, is going to help us reduce out imports by 1.7 million gallons a year," said Brad Rockwell, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

Once online in 2014 the solar system will generate 6-percent of the Garden Isle's daily energy needs.

Kauai Utility is teaming up with Solar-City and the Grove Farm company on this photovoltaic farm project.

"When it's done this solar field will take up about 39 acres of land and we're going to have more than 54, 000 solar panels," said Jon Yoshimura of SolarCity.

The 14-megawatt operation will be built near Koloa, on land Kauai Utility is leasing from Lihue-based Grove Farm Company.

"It's a proud moment for us to move forward on this project," said Michael Tresler, Senior Vice President of Grove Farm.

The project is one of three solar projects in development on Kauai.

When the three solar projects on Kauai are expected to generate 30 megawatts during the day.

That's enough power to meet about 50 percent of Kauai's daytime electrical needs.