Rally blasts plan to sell island utility to Sunshine State buyer

A group of nine protesters gathered outside Hawaiian Electric Industries’ Bishop Street headquarters Wednesday to protest Next-Era Energy Inc.’s proposed purchase of the state’s largest utility.

The protesters carried signs stating their opposition to the $4.3 billion sale, which needs approval from the state Public Utilities Commission before it can close.

“I’m hoping the deal will not pass and people will move to a local cooperative,” said Kate Beutner, an associate English professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

David Mulinix, organizer of the event, said NextEra’s history with solar in Florida and Hawaiian Electric’s Co.’s “roadblocks” against solar in Hawaii are bad for the environment.

“By creating roadblocks for homes and businesses to install rooftop solar panels, their efforts in effect will kill our local solar industry to protect their profits, and as a result are keeping our state addicted to climate-disrupting fossil fuels,” Mulinix said.

NextEra said in an email that the company plans to honor Hawaii’s history, culture, values and aspirations.

“We’ve seen how passionate people in Hawaii are about Hawaiian Electric and clean energy,” wrote Next-Era spokesman Rob Gould. “We’ve seen the strides the state has made in renewable energy, leading the way for the nation. We want to be part of the progress and are confident that, together, Hawaiian Electric and NextEra Energy will reach our goals.”

The protesters were met with occasional honks from passing drivers and praise from some passers-by.

“The public utility is the right way to go. We are opposing NextEra. We have to keep putting pressure on politicians,” Mulinix said. “The community has to rise up and say enough is enough.”