Renewable

Energy Sources

HECO, HELCO, and MECO traditionally purchased biomass power from local sugar mills, helping to extend the viability of this agricultural commodity in Hawaii.

The HC&S plantation on Maui continues to burn bagasse, or sugar cane waste, to produce electricity for its operations, with up to 12 MW sold to MECO. Recently, HC&S announced plans to expand its renewable energy business.

How Biomass Works

-- U.S. Department of Energy

The future of biomass

Pacific Rim Energy Partners has bought the coal-burning power plant and the buildings that were once run by the Hilo Coast Processing Co. sugar operation. The company is in discussions with several wood scrap sources, including two companies that plan to harvest eucalyptus trees on former Hamakua Sugar property, for fuel to supplement coal in the plant.