Hawaiian Electric (NYSE:HE) and its utilities have filed a plan with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission that offers a roadmap for a 30-year transition to 100% renewable power in the 50th state.
The Power Supply Improvement Plan Update was submitted to the Hawaii PUC for its review by, collectively, Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawaii Electric Light Co.
The proposal outlines detailed plan charting a 30-year course leading to 100% renewables in Hawaii, the utilities and the parent company said in an April 1 news release.
The plan lays out near-term actions to lay the foundation for meeting the most ambitious energy goals in the country, while preserving the flexibility needed to adapt to future advances in technology, changes in policy, and reductions in development costs, the companies said.
The plans also call for using liquefied natural gas (LNG) in two existing Kahe generators (Units 5 and 6) and at the Kalaeloa Partners plant in Campbell Industrial Park. In addition, LNG is proposed for Maalaea power plant on Maui and the Keahole and Hamakua Energy Partners plants on Hawaii Island. LNG could potentially be used at the planned Schofield Barracks Generating Station and other future sites.
In addition, the plan seeks to:
- Increase private rooftop solar by more than 250% from current levels and 370% over 2014 levels, when the companies’ last supply plans were prepared;
- Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2045, the highest level of any state in the country;
- Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030 on Molokai and Lanai and by 2040 on Maui and Hawaii Island.
The Hawaiian Electric utilities followed an open, collaborative process to develop these plans, the companies said. The 23 parties named to the docket by the PUC provided written and verbal input, which informed and influenced the analysis. In addition, Hawaiian Electric held multiple stakeholder and technical conferences to share information and collect feedback.
NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), which is based in Florida, has a proposal under review at the Hawaii PUC to merge with Hawaiian Electric.
