Disappeared News

Local media coverage of Occupy Hilo can be found on Big Island Video News' "Occupy HELCO, Pele Defense Fund re-emerges:"

http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2012/03/01/video-occupy-helco-pele-defense-fund-re-emerges/
 

Question for Henry Curtis: In the context of HELCO, could you explain the public policy rationale of "avoided cost contracting" in the context of HECO EVP Robbie Alm's comment[1]:

"The next ones over are out major PPAs. And you'll see something in common with a number of them, and that's how much they look like each other. That is called "avoided cost contracting." And since the 1970s it has been a legal requirement with renewable energy that when we sign a contract with a renewable producer that they get paid whatever we have to pay for oil. So oil goes up their contract goes up; oil goes down their contract goes down--but it tracks oil. You'll see this particularly on the Big Island: it doesn't matter how much of that renewable energy I just showed you, it hasn't helped their bills there because almost everything on the Big Island is avoided cost contracting."

Question #2: Are renewable energy producers with a supposedly fixed cost business model making out like bandits under avoided cost contracting with skyrocketing oil prices? Is there a renewable energy profiteering *scam* going on?

[1] Hawaii Democratic Party Environmental Caucus - Part 2, Recorded on 7-18-11, Power Visions Hawaiian Electric and Hawaii Solar Industry Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric Co at 21:10.

http://environmentalcaucusofthedemocraticpartyofhawaii.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/tonights-roundtable-on-energy/
 

Contact details: OccupyHiloMedia@yahoo.com
Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Hilo-in-solidarity-with-Occupy-Wall-Street/123047804466820?ref=ts
Twitter Account(s): @OccHiloMedia
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/user/OccupyHawaii
Livestream link: http://www.livestream.com/occupyhilo

Please join us! Check our facebook for calendar events, rallies, protests, movie nights, etc. We hold General Assembly (our organizational meeting)every Friday night at 6pm in Hilo. The location changes, so check the calendar for details. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
 

Not sure why Robbie Alm states, "... since the 1970s it has been a legal requirement with renewable energy that when we sign a contract with a renewable producer that they get paid whatever we have to pay for oil." Back in 2006, MECO purchase 70% of its energy from First Wind's Kaheawa I project at 8 cents per KWh and 30% at avoided cost. The bigger question to me, is why Kaheawa II, Kahuku and Kawailoa are all now selling their energy to MECO and HECO at around 23 cents/KWh and why our Consumer Advocate and the PUC allowed this.