February 22, 2022
关于正在进行的佤邦ste-of- taxpayer-money saga between the Public Utilities Commission and Hu Honua Bioenergy’s power purchase agreement (“Court rejects bid to delay approval hearing for wood burning power plant,”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 16), the PUC should simply follow the law. Per amended statute HRS 269-6(b), the PUC “shall explicitly consider … the State’s reliance on fossil fuels,” including greenhouse gas emissions, in comparison with fossil fuels and only fossil fuels — not versus solar, wind or other renewable-energy producers.
The power purchase agreement was previously approved in 2013 and 2017. The statute also allows reasonably higher costs than fossil fuels if there is movement away from fossil-fuel dependency. So, Hu Honua need not be the lowest cost producer, although its PUC-approved 2017 price quote stands.
With yet another hearing scheduled for March 1-4, it’s time the PUC follow the law and approve the power purchase agreement before even more taxpayer money is wasted on continued litigation.
Glen Kagamida
Honolulu Star-Advertiser, February 22, 2022:https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/02/22/editorial/letters/letters-puc-should-approve-hu-honua-agreement/