Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking state regulators to reject a request by a community group seeking to reopen the bidding for a proposed large-scale wind energy projects on Lanai and Molokai.

HECO said the request by Friends of Lanai should be denied for several reasons, including the fact that it was filed too late in the regulatory process. HECO also said the Public Utilities Commission is not required to consider the request from Friends of Lanai because the community group is not an official party in the proceeding.

Friends of Lanai on April 26 petitioned the PUC to reopen the bidding for the projects,  saying the original agreement was voided after one of the developers dropped out.

Boston-based First Wind withdrew from the project after missing a key March 18 deadline set by the PUC to show that it was making progress on its plans for 200 megawatts of wind power on Molokai. Castle & Cooke Resorts, which is pursuing a 200-megawatt wind project on Lanai, met the deadline.