State Supreme Court examines challenges to controversial Big Island power plant

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HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - On Friday, the State Supreme Court heard oral arguments about a controversial wood-burning power plant on Hawaii Island.

Environmental advocates questioned whether Hu Honua’s owners could appeal the Public Utility commission’s denial of the project.

The PUC rejected the company’s proposal twice last year even though construction of the plant is 99% complete.

The company, which touts its economic benefit to the community, said the project’s rejections could have led to layoffs of dozens of workers, including 64 staffers and contractors, along with another 145 trucking, forestry and support jobs.

The Pepeekeo plant has taken a dozen years to build at a cost of about $350 million.

The non-profit “Life of the Land,” which first challenged the plant in 2017, says even if the court overturns the PUC’s rejection, Hu Honua still has to resolve an issue concerning its injection wells for water-cooling.

A ruling on the appeal likely won’t happen for several months.