From As rooftop solar surges, states hit brakes Hawaii generates most of its electricity by burning imported oil, giving it the dubious distinction of the country’s highest electricity prices. And over the past two years, as the price of solar panels plummeted, Hawaiians realized they had a budget-minded alternative to oil. As one, they began […]
PUC to MECO: Allow More Solar
HECO, along with Maui Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Light Co., had set a 15 percent threshold for the amount of solar power that could be put on a single circuit during peak load. Individuals and businesses seeking to install PV systems that would breach the 15 percent threshold were required to conduct a costly […]
Maui Based Champley appointed to PUC
Maui Now reports that Maui-based energy consultant, Michael Champley of Kahakuloa Energy Advisors, LLC has been appointed to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). According to Disappeared News: He founded Kahakuloa in 2007, registered it in Michigan in 2008 and in Hawai`i in 2010. In Hawai`i, Mr. Champley serves on the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) Working […]
Consumer (?!) Advocate on Biofuel
From Disappeared News by Henry Curtis Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) has asked the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission to approve the HECO-Aina Koa Pono Biofuel Supply Contract (Docket 2011-0005). According to HECO, the technology that Aina Koa Pono will use has never been commercially proven. On August 23, 2011 the Consumer Advocate filed their Statement of […]
HECO: Raise Rates So We Can Buy Imported Palm Oil
From Henry Curtis: Last year HECO sold 7.6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. HECO has asked the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to add a tax on each kWh sold to subsidize HELCO’s purchase of biofuels from the politically connecedt Aina Koa Pono (AKP). AKP would sell 16 million gallons of biodiesel to HELCO to power […]
Big Wind to PUC: “Don’t Make Us Go Out to Bid”
July 26, 2011 Hawaiian Electric, with Castle & Cooke, petitioned the PUC to reverse their decision requiring HECO go out to bid on the company to develop the wind farm on Moloka’i. Hawaiian Electric is asking that the PUC either allow Castle & Cooke to develop the entire 400 mw wind farm on Lanai, or […]