Developer cancels Hawaiian Electric solar projects amid wildfire turmoil

By Catherine Morehouse | 11/01/2024 06:27 AM EDT

The projects would have totaled 195 megawatts across the Oahu and Hawaii islands.

A recovery vehicle drives past burned structures and cars two months after a devastating wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Embattled utility Hawaiian Electric continues to face legal and financial turmoil for its alleged role in sparking the devastating wildfires in Maui last year. Mario Tama/AFP via Getty Images

Renewable Energy developer Clearway Energy scrapped plans to develop three solar projects with Hawaiian Electric as the embattled utility continues to face legal and financial turmoil for its alleged role in sparking the devastating wildfires in Maui last year.

The projects, which were still being negotiated, would have totaled 195 megawatts across the Oahu and Hawaii islands.

The companies were unable to reach an agreement despite Hawaiian Electric’s efforts to address the developer’s concerns over the utility’s ability to finance the projects in light of HECO’s “ongoing financial uncertainty,” Clearway said in filings with state regulators by HECO on Tuesday.

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The cancellation of the projects represents a blow to the largest utility in the state — which has historically been seen as a leader in clean energy deployment.

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