Too much clean energy overpowers Hawaiian grid (Honolulu)

When Hawaiian Electric Co. raised a red flag last week, cautioning that its Big Island and Maui electric grids cannot take in more renewable-energy sources, it highlighted a paradox facing the 119-year-old electric utility: how to incorporate increasing amounts of “green” energy from often finicky natural resources into its aging grids without throwing off reliability and power quality.

The utility says it doesn’t have a clear answer.

The challenge is heightened as HECO faces pressure from the state under a mandate that 40 percent of electricity sales by HECO and its subsidiaries on Maui and the Big Island must come from renewable-energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower within 20 years.

HECO’s announcement of its moratorium didn’t sit well with many in the renewable-energy industry, especially Neighbor Island companies in the solar business that say they could be forced to shut down if the halt is approved by the state Public Utilities Commission.

Read the full story in the Pacific Business News.