Posted on: Thursday, July 10, 2003

Ruling gives HELCO approval to expand

Advertiser Staff

After a five-year battle, Hawaiian Electric Light Co. has won one part of its legal fight to expand its Keahole power plant on the Big Island.

The state Supreme Court granted a HELCO request seeking approval of the project by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

The board, in hearings that began in the mid-1990s, never approved or denied the application, which would let HELCO add capacity to its power plant.

Hawai'i state law requires a final land board decision within 180 days — and because the board was unable to reach a decision, HELCO can go ahead with the project.

The ruling puts to rest one of many thorny legal issues that have delayed the project for years. Community and environmental groups oppose the proposed expansion.