Honua Ola Bioenergy, formerly known as Hu Honua Bioenergy, on Thursday filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court seeking to vacate a recent order of the Public Utilities Commission, which denied Honua Ola’s power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric.
The almost-completed wood-burning power plant in Pepeekeo has been embroiled in state administrative and court battles the past few years in an attempt to go online.
“We have a strong case based on the law, on the precedent of the PUC approving our (power purchase agreement) twice before, and on the evidence showing Honua Ola will produce clean renewable energy while benefiting the Big Island’s environment and creating much-needed jobs,” Warren Lee, president of Honua Ola, said in a statement.
“We have met the burden for approval to begin operations by presenting an extensive record of objective evidence, facts and analyses that is consistent with the requirements established by the Hawaii Supreme Court,” he said.