The President of Hawai`i Electric Light Company (Helco) says the Big Island utility is leading the state in utilizing alternate or renewable energy sources to produce electricity. Powered by geothermal energy, wind farms and hydro-electric power, Helco has already satisfied a new state law requiring twenty percent of power generation to be supplied by renewable sources by the year 2020.
And during an appearance on KPUA’s Community Forum, Warren Lee said he sees the Big Island continuing to make big strides in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
“Our current ratio is about 78-percent fossil fuels and 22-percent renewable sources,” Lee said. “I see that moving to about 60-40 by 2020 and the renewable percentage could go even higher than 40-percent depending on technological developments like new types of wind turbines or the discovery of other sites for hydro-electric power.”
Lee said more renewable energy could also come from a waste to energy facility, if the county elects to build one as part of its waste management plan. He cautions however, that more renewable energy and less fossil fuels will not necessarily add up to lower electric rates. That will depend on the contracts they negotiate to buy power from the producers.
Meanwhile, the State Public Utilities Commission will hold public hearings next week on Helco’s request for a 9.2 percent rate increase. The Hilo hearing will be held at 6pm Monday in the Hilo High School Cafeteria. A second hearing will be held at 6pm Tuesday at the Kealakehe Intermediate School Cafeteria in Kona.
