Support community-scale energy systems
The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has recently opened a new docket to further review and, most importantly, invite more public input on Hawaiian Electric’s most recent draft request for proposal based on the utility’s Integrated Grid Plan (IGP). Hawaiian Electric has begun the process of procuring up to 542 megawatts of new power resources across its service areas, starting on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island. Maui island has been deferred to the next round of RFPs. This is a crucial moment for residents and stakeholders to get involved, as your voice can help shape the future of Hawaiʻi’s energy grid.
By opening this docket, the PUC has introduced key changes to the procurement process that stress transparency, community engagement, and public participation! Communities can directly share their thoughts on Hawaiian Electric’s latest IGP Request for Proposals (RFPs) and future IGP-related RFPs as the plan is implemented across the state.
Key Environmental Justice Highlights in the Docket:
No Formal Intervention Required: This docket is designed to make public participation accessible. Unlike most PUC dockets, there’s no need for formal intervention to participate, making it easier for a broader range of people to contribute their perspectives. To that end, a public comment period has been opened through September 16th, allowing your input to directly influence the final IGP RFP before it is approved.
Independent Oversight: To ensure the fairness and transparency in the competitive bidding process, the PUC will appoint an Independent Observer and an Independent Engineer. These roles are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the process, as they report progress and findings directly to the commission.
Non-Wires Alternatives: This procurement process includes opportunities for community-scale projects through non-wires alternatives, which focus on smaller, distributed energy resources and microgrids to remove the need for building new costly infrastructure. This approach could reduce the need for large-scale grid infrastructure and supports localized energy solutions.
Why This Matters:
An Integrated Grid Plan, or IGP, is similar to a county’s "general plan," but for energy. It outlines the long-term goals, policies, and priorities for energy development. Hawaiian Electric’s IGP is a five-year framework designed to meet growing energy demands, achieve policy goals, address consumer needs, and evolve the grid with the latest technology and climate resilience strategies.
The latest draft IGP RFP is putting Hawaiian Electric’s plans in action. Although it is an improvement from prior ones, such as the first-ever community benefits requirement, there are opportunities to make it even better. These include:
Aggregate smaller-scale projects vs. industrial-scale:
Large-industrial scale projects continue to create tension between our renewable energy goals, resources, and surrounding communities. The current draft IGP RFP asks developers to propose projects of at least 5MW each, which for a solar farm, would require about 20-25 acres of land. In Waiʻanae, Oʻahu, where projects are often proposed, 25 acres could potentially accommodate around 217 single-family homes. However, by allowing proposers to combine multiple, smaller projects within a single bid, localized initiatives by community leaders can be supported. If adopted, this change will empower communities to take an active role in their energy future.
Innovative Siting on Developed Lands:
Many Hawaiʻi communities prefer dual land use and siting projects on pre-developed land. Finding a single site capable of hosting a 5MW project can be challenging, particularly on Oʻahu. Aggregating smaller projects, as mentioned above, could also make efficient use of already developed areas, such as parking lots and rooftops, with much more community support, accelerating the development of energy infrastructure that eases tension between our food systems, affordable housing, and attaining our mandated renewable energy goals..
Enhance Climate Resilience:
Distributed energy systems, such as those using microgrids, are more resilient to climate impacts. By shifting from Hawaiian Electric’s aging centralized “eggs in basket model” of power generation and diversifying energy sources across different locations, we reduce the risk of widespread outages and enhance the grid’s ability to withstand extreme weather events. This could also allow communities to share power with others in need during major disasters.
What You Can Do:
Comprehensive energy planning that includes the needs and priorities of individual communities and ratepayers is essential to ensuring a safe, reliable, and affordable energy system. While the PUC’s process may seem intimidating, it’s a critical form of advocacy, much like engaging with legislative matters. The outcomes of these proceedings will affect us all, making it imperative that we participate actively. Please lend your voice to the future of energy in Hawaiʻi today!
Submit Comments to the PUC:
Written testimony can be submitted online here by September 16, 2024.
Enter your information: name, address, and email address.
Enter docket number: DOCKET NO. 2024-0258
Enter subject line: To Institute a Proceeding Relating To Competitive Procurement of Grid-Scale Resources, Non-Wires Alternatives, and Grid Services.
Position: Comment.
Comments: Enter comments or attach your own file. Specific format instructions are on the form.
Sample Comments:
Aloha Chair Asuncion, PUC Commissioners, and Staff,
My name is [Name] and I appreciate the Public Utilities Commission’s decision and order to increase community participation in energy planning, by opening Docket 2024-0258.
I am writing to offer comments on Docket: 2024-0258 regarding Hawaiian Electric’s draft Integrated Grid Plan (IGP) RFP, to allow the option for multiple smaller-scale projects to meet the 5MW energy production requirements of the draft IGP RFP, and future procurements.
As a resident of [Location], I face the dual challenges of energy insecurity and the looming threats of natural disasters, all exacerbated by our reliance on fossil fuels. The transition to renewable energy is not just necessary—it’s critical for making our islands more resilient to these challenges. However, the rapid acceleration of large-scale industrial projects taking up hundreds of acres of land each is creating unnecessary conflicts with our food systems, affordable housing, and the very goals we’ve set for renewable energy.
The current IGP offers promising steps in the right direction, but I see a crucial opportunity in the IGP Request for Proposals (RFP). Specifically, I strongly urge the draft IGP RFP to allow for the aggregation of multiple, smaller projects to meet the overall energy production goal of 5 MW.
By allowing a developer to propose multiple smaller-scale projects into one aggregate submission, we can:
Promote Community-Focused Grid Design: Aggregating smaller projects encourages developers to create solutions that meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
Ensure Equitable Land-Use: Aggregating smaller projects can make better use of already developed spaces, like parking lots and rooftops, particularly in land-constrained areas like Oʻahu. This could also potentially allow for projects to alleviate the concentration of huge projects in rural areas and spread further across the island.
Enhance Climate Resilience: Distributed energy systems, including microgrids, are inherently more resilient to climate impacts, helping to reduce the risk of widespread outages and allowing communities to share power during disasters.
This revision to the IGP RFP rules would support smaller, localized initiatives, democratize access to renewable energy, and empower our communities to actively shape their energy future.
Mahalo for the opportunity to provide comments.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]