HECO progresses on 100 MW project

For the first time, the company is using competitive bidding

Hawaiian Electric Co. is moving forward with plans to bring up to an additional 100 megawatts of renewable energy to Oahu.

The utility said yesterday it has issued a request for proposals from renewable energy providers on a non-firm basis, allowing companies to submit additional larger proposals or subsequent increments for more renewable energy. It is the first time HECO has opened up a competitive bidding process for renewable energy production.

"One hundred is a ballpark figure," spokesman Peter Rosegg said, with the possibility of several smaller projects by multiple bidders, not to be 5 MW or less.

The state Public Utilities Commission implemented the bidding process in late 2006.

The request follows a solicitation of interest submitted at the end of September. In an effort to keep bidding as inclusionary as possible, HECO is not disclosing the number and types of companies who have already participated, Rosegg said.

HECO has a target start date of commercial operation in the 2010 to 2014 time frame, according to the filing.

The project follows other alternative energy projects by HECO, including the waste-to-energy plant, which provides 46 MW, and the Campbell Industrial Park biodiesel plant, which will provide 110 MW, using renewable biodiesel starting in next year.

Prospective bidders can visit http://generationbidding.heco.com for more information. Responses are due by Sept. 25.