New PUC Chair Hermina Morita By Henry Curtis Hermina M. Morita was born on Moloka`i September 2, 1954, raised on Lana`i and lives on Kaua`i. She graduated from Kamehameha Schools, and briefly attended both the University of Hawaii and George Washington University. Mina was elected to the State House in 1997, representing Hanalei, Anahola, Kealia, Kapaa and Waipouli. She […]
Dept of Energy Working on Utility Scale Solar
DOE’s Audacious Goal: “SunShot” Earlier this month, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced details of the Department of Energy’s “SunShot” initiative to bring the total costs of utility-scale solar energy systems down about 75 percent—to roughly $1 a watt—by 2020. RMI is helping bring focus to the goal, facilitating a DOE workshop in Washington, D.C., last week […]
RMI’s Project Get Ready partner cities already ahead
Obama Proposes EV Readiness in 30 Communities On the heels of President Obama’s reiteration of his 2008 goal to put more than 1 million plug-in cars on the road by 2015, Vice President Joe Biden recently announced a plan to make this commitment a reality. Most notable is a proposal for a competitive grant program offering 30 […]
Kaheawa Wind Approved for Expansion
Second Maui Wind Farm Approved By Henry Curtis The Public Utilities Commission has approved a Power Purchase Contract between Kaheawa Wind Power II LLC (KWPII) and Maui Electric Company (MECO)…The proposed wind farm will include a Battery Energy Storage System (10 MW/20 MWh) Read more of Henry Curtis’ article at Second Maui Wind Farm Approved
Second Maui Wind Farm Approved
By Henry Curtis The Public Utilities Commission has approved a Power Purchase Contract between Kaheawa Wind Power II LLC (KWPII) and Maui Electric Company (MECO). FirstWind is the primary owner of KWPII. FirstWind succeeded where other windfarm proposals on Maui failed because FirstWind teamed up with politically connected Makani Nui Associates, LLC (Kent R. Smith, […]
Ku’oko’a continues to attempt takeover of HEI
By Henry Curtis Ku’oko’a announced that it wanted to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI), the owner of three of the four electric utilities in the State: HECO (O`ahu County), MECO (Maui County) and HELCO (Hawai`i County). Ku’oko’a plans to sell off HEI’s American Savings Bank and focus on replacing HECO’s, MECO’s and HELCO’s diesel and […]