STATE RELEASES TESTIMONY OPPOSING PROPOSED HEI, NEXTERA MERGER
News Release from Office of the Governor, July 21, 2015
HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige today outlined the reasons why the state submitted testimony opposing Hawaiian Electric Industries’ proposed merger with NextEra Energy Inc. as it currently stands.
“Although I welcome capital investment in Hawai‘i with respect to energy, any merger or investment must align with the state’s 100 percent renewable energy goal,” Ige said. “The state respectfully opposes the merger in its current form because it fails to align with the state’s renewable energy goals.”
In the testimony, the state expressed strong reservations about the transaction as proposed and said it should not be approved.
“We are committed to a 100 percent renewable future, standing alone among fifty states in the nation in that action. We need an electric company that sees Hawai‘i as the center of its work and the opportunity we represent as one of the greatest moments in history for any utility. We have not seen that in this proposal,” Ige added.
The two filings were made on behalf of the Hawai‘i State Energy Office and the Hawai‘i State Office of Planning.
The state’s testimony can be found here.
PUC filings:
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Hawaiian Electric statement regarding the proposed merger between HEI and NextEra Energy
News Release from HEI
HONOLULU, July 21, 2015 – The following statement is from Alan Oshima, Hawaiian Electric Company president and CEO:
"We recognize that this proposed merger is a very important matter for our customers, our communities and the state at large. The PUC review is an ongoing process that provides an opportunity to address and answer questions or concerns. As more information is provided throughout this process, we feel strongly that others will also conclude that this partnership with NextEra Energy will result in significant benefits for our customers and for Hawaii's leadership in clean energy."
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SA: NextEra still committed to purchase HEI despite Ige's opposition
KHON: Gov. Ige explains opposition to proposed NextEra-HECO merger
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