HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 276 Draft 02 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII. STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION N0. "'76 96
(DRAFT 2 )
A RESOLUTION RELATING TO BACKUP ENERGY GENERATION
WHEREAS, the island of Hawaii has been characterized by unreliable electrical service which
has resulted in rolling blackouts and power outages, and in 1991-92 the island experienced more
than twenty (20) rolling blackouts; and
WHEREAS, there is considerable uncertainty as to whether Hawaii Electric Light Company,
Ina (HELLO) will obtain the necessary permits for the proposed Keahole expansion; and
WHEREAS, should HELLO obtain the necessary permits for the Keahole site, or seek to install
the generation units of CT-4, CT-5, and ST-7 at another location (which would take from 27 to
31 months), the additional generation capacity is unlikely to come online in time to mitigate the
potential for rolling blackouts in the coming months; and
WHEREAS, a utility's system is deemed to have sufficient generation capacity if it has enough
margin to cover the loss of the largest generation unit with another unit on maintenance; and
WHEREAS, the HELLO Generation Resource Contingency Plan, filed with the Public Utilities
Commission on June 9, 1995, indicates that its system will not meet this sufficient capacity
criteria during peak load periods between the months of May and September in 1996; and
WHEREAS, this potential inability to meet the peak demand could lead to rolling blackouts
during these months, which compromises public health and safety and is damaging to business,
economic development, and property; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy, Charles Totto, cited
in his response to the HELLO contingency plan that mobile generation units have been used by
several utilities outside the State of Hawaii for emergency service, and that they may be an
effective option to avoid rolling blackouts; and
WHEREAS, HELLO cited the delays associated with the Department of Health (DOH) permit
requirements as an obstacle for the use of such generation measures; and
WHEREAS, the DOH Clean Air Branch has indicated that generating devices in the lowest class
of emissions (100 tons of controlled particulates per year) could possibly be permitted for
operation, at specific sites, in four to Five months.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCII. OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it supports the use of temporary, mobile generating units as a means to avoid
rolling blackouts in the coming months, and that it urges HELCO to apply for the permits which
would allow them to use such generators at specific locations, and that it urges the Department
of Health to expedite, as much as it is possible, HELCO's application for such permits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this
Resolution to Director of the Department of Health (DOH), Lawrence H. Miike; the Chief of the
DOH Environmental Management Division, Thomas E. Arizumi; the Chief of the DOH Clean
Air Branch, Wilfred K. Nagamine; the President of Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.,
Warren H. W. Lee; the Vice-President of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Edward Y. Hirata;
the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, Yukio Naito; and the Executive Director of the
Division of Consumer Advocacy, Charles Totto.
Dated: Hilo, Hawaii, this 21st day of February , 199Cz,
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL
JR/kle
COUNTY OF HAWAII
ROLL CALL VOTE
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the
vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of
the County of Hawaii on February 21, 1996
ATTEST:
COUNTY CLERK
CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER
AYES ~ NOES ~ ABS ~ EX
Arakaki x
Bonk-Abramson X
Childs X
De Lima X
Domingo X
Osorio X
Rath X
Smith ~ X
Reference C 1007
RESOLUTION NO. ~ ~~ G"~D (DRAFT Z ~