Molokai, Lanai solar projects up for debate

Hawaiian Electric will discuss proposed solar and battery projects for Molokai and Lanai during two virtual meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Molokai program meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday on www.webex.com. Callers should dial (844) 992-4726 toll-free and enter the meeting number 146 449 2132. The password is 2qqQjCYmr52.

The Lanai program meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday on the same platform. Participants should call the same number and enter the meeting number 146 539 5042. The password is Evvdt FJG548.

Company officials will give a presentation and answer audience questions. Questions may be sent in advance to MolokaiCBRE@hawaiianelectric.com or LanaiCBRE@hawaiianelectric.com.

The public can also tune in live at facebook.com/hawaiianelectric and on Akaku Channel 54.

Hawaiian Electric is proposing shared solar or communitybased renewable energy programs on the two islands. Shared solar allows utility customers who cannot or do not want to put solar panels on their roof to benefit from renewable energy savings through a subscription to a generation facility in exchange for credit offsets on their electricity bill. Eligible participants include homeowners or businesses not currently enrolled in any other Hawaiian Electric solar program, such as net energy metering.

On Molokai, Hawaiian Electric is proposing up to 2.5 megawatts of solar paired with a 4-hour battery energy storage system. The project would be located on about 7 acres at Hawaiian Electric’s Pala‘au Power Plant in Kaunakakai and would be a self-build project, meaning it would be developed, constructed and owned by the utility.

Lanai’s system would also be a self-build project with up to 17.5 MW on about 73 acres near Hawaiian Electric’s Miki Basin Power Plant. The project will supply enough energy annually to meet the electricity needs of the entire island. Up to 3 MW of the facility’s capacity will be available to subscribers.

If selected through the request for proposals process, the Lanai project will still need approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Shared solar projects under 2.5 MW on all islands except Oahu will not need PUC review.

For more information on shared solar, visit www.hawaiianelectric.com/sharedsolar.