From Friends of Lanai News Release

“Given the fact that David Murdock no longer owns Lana’i, the waiver granted to him for Big Wind on Lana’i is no longer valid,” said Robin Kaye, spokesperson for FOL. “The Commission granted Hawaiian Electric and C&C a waiver from competitive bidding based on, among other conditions, demonstrated ‘site control.’ Since Larry Ellison is now the owner of Murdock’s previous holdings, Murdock should be required to bid as any other renewable energy developer is required to bid by the PUC’s framework for acquiring new sources of renewable energy — under the PUC’s competitive bidding requirements.”

The PUC refused to grant a waiver to First Wind when it could not demonstrate site control on Moloka’i back in 2011, and Kaye said this now applies to C&C as well. “Murdock claims he retained some unknown ‘wind development rights’ when he sold the island to Ellison back in June, but unless and until those rights have been subjected to public scrutiny — and determined to currently meet the requirements of the PUC for a waiver from competitive bidding — Murdock should not have any preferential treatment.” The PUC-required RFP for 200 MW or more of renewable power that will be issued by HECO later this year, “should now apply to Murdock,” said Kaye. “We think the PUC’s denial of a waiver for First Wind, based on lack of site control on Molokai, should now be extended to Castle & Cooke.”

FULL TEXT: Friends of Lanai PUC Filing

Background: Friends of Lanai Legal Documents