Hawaiian Electric eyes more renewable energy projects

Hawaiian Electric Company is exploring options for developing more renewable energy projects to help lower and stabilize energy costs for electric customers on Oahu island.

Hawaiian Electric is seeking from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to facilitate issuing a formal Request For Proposals (RFP) for new renewable energy projects on Oahu and to appoint an independent observer (IO) to oversee the procurement process.

Appointing an independent observer early in the process would allow Hawaiian Electric and the IO to collaboratively design the RFP and the associated technical, operational, and performance requirements of any renewable energy proposals, Hawaiian Electric said.

Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric Vice President of Corporate Planning and Business Development, said: “Our state is off to a good start to achieve 100% renewable energy and it’s important that we keep up the momentum. It’s critical that we act quickly to add more renewable energy so our customers can receive the benefit of transforming the electric system that serves them.”

Hawaiian Electric wants to seek projects that can be in service by the end of 2020 to ensure customers receive the benefits of these projects as soon as possible, the company said in a press release.