PUC rejects Honua Ola’s bid to go online
The state Public Utilities Commission has again rejected a power purchase agreement between Hawaiian Electric Co. and Honua Ola Bioenergy — preventing the nearly completed wood-burning powerplant formerly known as Hu Honua from going online.
The vote was 2-1 with PUC Chairman James Griffin and Commissioner Jennifer Potter voting to reject the contract between Honua Ola and HECO. Commissioner Leodoloff Asuncion Jr. cast the dissenting vote.
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The 30-megawatt facility has been the subject of controversy for a protracted amount of time. The PUC has already once denied the request, saying the projected rate of 22 cents per kilowatt hour over a 30-year contract was higher than other alternatives and “not in the public interest.”
Honua Ola appealed that decision to the Hawaii Supreme Court, which remanded the case back to the PUC with orders to consider greenhouse gas emissions. Contested case evidentiary hearings were held earlier this year, leading to Monday’s decision.
See Tuesday’s edition of the Tribune-Herald for a complete story.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
