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Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Co submitted requests today with state regulators to begin the process of finding developers for renewable energy projects on Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii island.
The electric utilities requested the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission open the formal review process of request for proposals so MECO and HELCO can find potential developers. The utilities said once the PUC approves the request for proposals, each will provide details to prospective bidders on the type of renewable energy projects needed for each island.
The electric utilities said they plan to appoint an independent observer to oversee the process. Each island would have its own request for proposals to which developers can respond.
Hawaiian Electric Co. said the company is targeting projects that can be in service by the end of 2020. HECO’s updated renewable energy plan outlined Molokai achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2020, Lanai by 2030, and Maui and Hawaii Island by 2040.
Are they going to bring back the NEM?
They said the grid was saturated.
There are communities on the mainland with the same infrastructure that have no problem operating with 200-300 % saturation rate. If hawaii says we are 100% saturated, there is conflicting information out there.
HECO’s monopolistic practices are hurting the future of how energy is delivered in Hawaii.
Independent observer…. good idea. The public doesn’t trust HECO so anyone else is probably a good idea. The public doesn’t want HECO to handle the bidding.