Hawaii Electric Light Co. has received six bids for a second geothermal power plant on the Big Island.
The deadline was Tuesday.
Jay Ignacio, HELCO president, said the utility plans to have a contract awarded by September for another 50 megawatts of geothermal electricity.
“We don’t have a deadline but that’s what we’re targeting,” he said.
Afterward, HELCO will seek a power purchase agreement through the state Public Utilities Commission.
That process could take about a year, Ignacio said.
Who applied and other details are confidential, he said.
Ormat Technologies, which owns Puna Geothermal Venture, the state’s only geothermal plant, submitted a bid, said Mike Kaleikini, Ormat’s senior director for Hawaiian affairs.
Kaleikini said he could not comment on any details of the proposal, including whether Ormat is offering its current site in Pohoiki for an expansion.
PGV has a contract with HELCO for up to 38 mgw of power.
Innovations Development Group of Honolulu has also said it planned to submit a bid.
Ignacio said the utility is working with an independent observer to review the bids.
“In a bid process, the more the better,” he said, when asked if HELCO is satisfied with the number of offers.
“If we have a good bid out of the six, then the end result is the same.”
