Three chambers of commerce and a union coalition joined the growing number of groups in support of NextEra Energy Inc.’s purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries.

The boards of directors for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce and Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii announced Monday that they passed resolutions in support of NextEra’s proposed $4.3 billion buyout of HEI. The announcement follows the support of the AFL-CIO — a union composed of 75 affiliated unions, councils and constituency groups that represent more than 100,000 workers in the state. The group announced support for the proposed purchase Friday.

The Sierra Club, one of the local groups involved in the Public Utilities Commission’s review of the sale, said the announcements don’t align with the opinions of those participating in the review.

"NextEra is cranking up the lobbying, and HECO is calling in whatever favors they have left," said Marti Townsend, director of Sierra Club of Hawaii. "Parties in this docket and those actually engaged in energy policy, including state and county governments, are united in opposition. We see the proposed takeover for the raw deal that it is. A bigger HECO is not better for the ratepayers or the environment. It’s that simple."

The coalition of labor unions said it supports the sale because NextEra Energy promises to recognize the collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 and the importance of skilled unionized labor in the state.

"This merger will not only support workers, but everyone in the state of Hawaii," said Damien Kim, business manager-financial secretary for IBEW 1186. "NextEra has committed to saving more than $60 million over four years for Hawaii customers while also continuing to support rooftop solar. The NextEra energy merger is a win-win for everyone."

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce and Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii said they support NextEra’s proposed purchase of HEI because NextEra would help the state reach its 100 percent renewable energy goals and help bring down customers’ bills.

"To get to the clean energy future we all want, improvements must be made to Hawaii’s existing energy infrastructure — and this will require significant investment and technological expertise," the chambers said in a statement. "NextEra Energy has the necessary financial strength and considerable experience in renewable energy. HEI partnering with NextEra Energy will be good for our businesses, good for our customers and good for Hawaii."

Life of the Land, another group involved in the review of the sale, said the announcements were not surprising.

"Neither were unexpected," said Henry Curtis, executive director of Life of the Land. "Unions have become more and more corporate. Chambers of commerce have tended to go along with anything that sounds pro-business."

Curtis said the support is related to the company’s hiring of local consultants, including Jennifer Sabas, former chief of staff to the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

"It is also Jennifer Sabas working the unions," Curtis said. "She’s doing an enormous job targeting groups."

State Rep. Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Waimanalo), who supports evaluating alternatives to NextEra, said the sale would lead to higher costs for local families and higher costs for businesses.

"I don’t think people realize that while the utilities claim lower costs, the PUC already found their current plans will actually raise costs on Oahu," Lee said.

Eddie Flores, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and CEO of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, wrote a letter to the editor of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in support of NextEra and testified for the company at the PUC’s public listening session on Oahu in October.