PUC to HECO – Yes, you HAVE to rebid Big Wind

From Honolulu Civil Beat:

The state Public Utilities Commission has denied Hawaiian Electric Co.’s request to reconsider a July ruling requiring the utility to rebid 200 megawatts – or half – of the Big Wind project.

“The commission is not convinced that any of the arguments raised by HECO demonstrate that the commission’s order is ‘unreasonable, unlawful or erroneous,’” as Hawaiian Electric had argued, according to a PUC document made public today.

…The Molokai wind farm is still a possibility. But Hawaiian Electric must put out a RFP for 200 mw or more of renewable energy, which can now be sited on any island that can reasonably reach Oahu via a cable, or on Oahu itself. The RFP also must be open to any technology, not just wind. The 200 mw Lanai portion of the project is permitted to proceed, but must gain final PUC approval.

Read more at Honolulu Civil Beat