Hawaiian Electric Wants More Renewable Energy

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http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50148

Hawaiian Electric Company wants more renewable energy in Oahu's power grid. The company has issued a Solicitation of Interest seeking bids from renewable energy developers. Subject to approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Hawaiian Electric then will follow up with a formal Request for Proposals (RFP).

The proposed RFP will most likely ask bidders to submit a base proposal for their project to provide up to 100 megawatts (MW) of non-firm renewable energy and may also allow bidders to submit additional alternate larger proposals or subsequent phased increments of more renewable energy.

The additional renewable energy will complement existing renewable resources on Oahu, including the H-POWER garbage-to-energy plant which provides 46 MW and the new Campbell Industrial Park plant which will provide 110 MW using biofuels starting in 2009.

Meeting Oahu's future energy needs will take a diverse portfolio of actions, including maintaining and evaluating the greening of the utility's existing plants, adding even more renewable energy -- including biofuels, wind, solar, ocean energy, seawater air-conditioning and other sources -- and increased energy conservation and efficiency. For Hawaiian Electric, this call for more renewables for Oahu is another major step in that direction.

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