PUC Approves Hawaiian Electric, Pacific Biodiesel Contract

Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission regulators recently approved a contract between Hawaiian Electric and Pacific Biodiesel Technologies to supply biodiesel for Oahu power generators.

Under the two-year contract, between two million and three million gallons per year will go to the 110-megawatt Campbell Industrial Park generation facility and the Honolulu International Airport Emergency Power Facility. Although the biodiesel is slated to be used at those two facilities, other Oahu plants might also benefit.

The biofuel will be produced at Pacific Biodiesel’s newest Big Island facility, which began operations in 2012.

“The new technology installed at Big Island Biodiesel enables us to process the most degraded feedstock into the highest quality biodiesel available in the United States,” said Robert King, president of Pacific Biodiesel.

Beyond savings costs, the PUC noted that the contract will also contribute to the local economy.

“Locally produced biodiesel provides consistent green jobs, along with energy security and displacement of fossil fuels,” King said.

Pacific Biodiesel processes used cooking oil from Hawai’i’s restaurants into biodiesel. The company hopes that in the future, it will supplement the supply with grown oil crops.