02-05-2015, 01:05 AM
Staying slightly off-topic: The RFP documents show the potential conflict between the two premises supporting geothermal development as seen in the Roadmap and elsewhere.
1) Reduce dependency on fossil fuels for generating electricity.
2) Reduce electricity costs for customers.
The PUC appears to favor the first, focusing on their requests for HELCO to lay out plans for retiring their oil fired plants. HELCO emphasizes the second requiring new geothermal to actually deliver cost savings, which is challenging during the current period of very cheap oil.
There are short-term and long-term trade offs, but both can be said to be in the customers' interests. Have to see if a developer can resolve the dilemma and also is willing to be limited to as low as 7MW as HELCO sees fit.
1) Reduce dependency on fossil fuels for generating electricity.
2) Reduce electricity costs for customers.
The PUC appears to favor the first, focusing on their requests for HELCO to lay out plans for retiring their oil fired plants. HELCO emphasizes the second requiring new geothermal to actually deliver cost savings, which is challenging during the current period of very cheap oil.
There are short-term and long-term trade offs, but both can be said to be in the customers' interests. Have to see if a developer can resolve the dilemma and also is willing to be limited to as low as 7MW as HELCO sees fit.