Public Utilities Commission reopens case for Hawaii island energy plant

The state Public Utilities Commission has reopened the docket for the Honua Ola Bioenergy biomass plant on Hawaii island.

The order includes a procedural schedule leading up to an evidentiary hearing on greenhouse gas emissions that is expected to be scheduled the week of Jan. 10.

Exactly a year ago, on July 9, 2020, the PUC issued an order that closed the docket on the Honua Ola Bioenergy facility.

Honua Ola appealed the decision to the Hawaii Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously in Honua Ola’s favor on May 24, vacating the PUC’s order and sending the matter back to the PUC for further proceedings.

Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC, which does business as Honua Ola Bioenergy, has been seeking the PUC’s approval to begin operating a $474 million biomass plant in Pepeekeo on the Hama­kua Coast that is 99% complete and will burn trees to produce energy. That energy would be purchased by Hawaii Electric Light Co., now known simply as Hawaiian Electric, under an agreement between the two companies.