Hilo Coast
Power to close

The Big Island company has been
temporarily providing energy
to Hawaii Electric Light Co.

Brewer Environmental Industries LLC plans to close its Hilo Coast Power Co. in Pepeekeo on the Big Island by the end of the year, leaving 15 employees without work and further dismantling the company's once-strong foothold in Hawaii.

BEI, which was once part of former Big Five company C. Brewer Co., once ran five divisions and had about 300 employees at the height of its operations, but has steadily divested itself of business holdings.

In 2001, BEI sold its distribution and environmental services division, which supplied most of the fertilizer and chemicals for the state's agriculture and industry. In 2002, the company sold HT&T Truck Center and HT&T Trucking. The company continues to operate HT&T Stevedore, which employs about 45 people on the Big Island.

Hilo Coast, an energy company originally based in C. Brewer's sugar business, recently sent a plant closing notice to the state, citing loss of key business as the reason for closing.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. will terminate a services contract with Hilo Coast Dec. 31 because the installation of two generators at Keahole has made Hilo Coast's services unnecessary, said Jose S. Dizon, spokesman for HELCO.

Hilo Coast was formed in 1994 to provide additional power for HELCO said Bethanne Enoki, vice president of human resources for BEI.

HELCO began contracting with Hilo Coast to provide additional power to the Big Island's West side after plans to install more generators were delayed, Dizon said. HELCO always intended the contract to be an interim arrangement.

BEI officials have not decided what to do with the Hilo Coast facility after operations cease, Enoki said.

The company is helping employees at the plant find other work, Enoki said. There are no vacant positions at the company's only remaining holding, HT&T Stevedore.