The Maui News

Hawaiian Electric is seeking project proposals that would allow low- and moderate-income customers to participate in a shared solar program on Maui, Oahu and Hawaii island.

The community-based renewable energy program provides a way for customers, such as renters, apartment residents, small business owners and organizations that can’t install privately owned rooftop solar, to benefit from solar electricity generated on their island, according to a Hawaiian Electric news release.

Shared solar aims to lower participants’ energy bills, while helping to reduce the use of imported fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions, according to the news release.

As approved by the Public Utilities Commission, the request for proposals is open until 2 p.m. May 17.

Developers, companies, organizations or groups authorized to do business in the state can submit proposals to develop shared solar projects. Proposals will undergo an evaluation process. An organization whose proposal is selected will be considered a “subscriber organization.”

Details are available at hawaiianelectric.com/LMICBRERFP. Information on applying to become a subscriber organization is available at hawaiianelectric.com/sharedsolar.

When a subscriber organization proposing a shared solar facility is approved, customers on the island where the project will be located may become “subscribers” to the facility by applying directly to the subscriber organization. Once the project is built and online, subscribers may receive credits on their monthly electricity bill based on the output of the project and their level of participation.

Development of the shared solar request for proposals involved feedback from communities and stakeholders on the three islands. As a result of community meetings, Hawaiian Electric added criteria giving higher scoring to projects proposed on land zoned commercial or industrial, prioritizing residential subscribers based on their proximity to the shared solar project and encouraging subscriber organizations to use local labor and pay prevailing wages.

Proposals must include post-selection activities for any cultural resource impacts and requirements for continued community outreach and engagement.

A separate request for proposals for additional shared solar projects on the three islands called Tranche 1 will be opened on April 14. Low- and moderate-income components will not be required in Tranche 1, but will be provided an incentive.

Updates will be available at hawaiianelectric.com/Tranche1CBRERFP.