A plan to build a 100-mile undersea cable connecting energy grids on Hawaii’s islands would aid in meeting the state’s ambitious renewable-energy objectives, writes AOL Energy.
If it proves that the grids can take more energy from renewable sources than the highest levels currently assumed by the industry that would be a big boost to plans for offshore wind farms along the U.S. East Coast.
After getting the acceptance from Hawaii’s legislature to finance the cable via the rate structure, the state’s utility, HECO, is now looking for bids for development with a view to having it operational by 2017.
Development of the inter-island cable is designed to inspire the development of renewable energy projects on individual islands, and to allow the sharing of power between the currently discrete grids.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , June 28, 2012