Hawaiian Electric has selected seven solar projects on Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui to become the first on each island to offer a shared solar program (also known as community-based renewable energy or CBRE) to help lower bills. of electricity to customers which is very low. – and moderate-income (LMI) level and cannot install private rooftop solar.
A competitive bidding evaluation process, which takes into account the cost of projects as well as non-price factors including community outreach, is used to evaluate proposals. On Oahu, the 6 MW Kaukonahua Solar shared solar LMI project co-developed by Nexamp Solar and Melink Solar Development was selected.
On the Island of Hawaii and Maui, three projects on each island were selected, all of which were developed by Nexamp Solar. Next, Hawaiian Electric will work with selected developers to finalize 20-year contracts. On Maui, there are solar+battery storage projects with Lipoa Solar (3 MW), Makawao Solar (2.5 MW) and Piiholo Road Solar (2.5 MW). On Hawaii Island, the solar+storage projects include Kalaoa Solar A (3 MW), Kalaoa Solar B (3 MW) and Naalehu Solar (3 MW).
Once Hawaiian Electric’s CBRE Portal projects are available, LMI customers – including renters and apartment residents – will become “subscribers” to a facility on their respective islands. Once the projects are established and online, subscribers will receive credit on their monthly electricity bills based on their level of participation in the following projects:
In March 2022, a request for proposals was opened for developers, companies, organizations or groups to become “subscriber organizations” in shared solar projects for LMI customers. LMI shared solar projects are expected to be online by 2025.
“Our proven track record as a long-term owner/operator has made us a trusted partner in hundreds of communities today and our seven new Nexamp projects in Hawaii will help the state that will move towards the goals of decarbonization,” said Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp. “Dedicated to low and moderate income residents, each of these shared solar projects will ensure equal access to participation and lower their electricity costs while reducing the islands’ dependence on fossil fuels . We look forward to making our popular community solar program and other consumer decarbonization services available to all Hawaii residents in the coming years.
