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Hawaii is still a long way from having liquefied natural gas as a major component in its energy portfolio, replacing some of the oil used in electrical generation and filling the needs of customers who use gas directly.
However, there’s been a lot of movement in that direction, with the state Public Utilities Commission in the position to decide how this proceeds, if at all.
Some of the mileposts, provided by utilities:
Small-scale containerized imports for HawaiiGas
>> Supply to back up synthesized natural gas (SNG) in the event of refineries closing has been in place at Pier 38 since April. No environmental approvals were required.
>> A PUC application is pending to displace 30 percent of the SNG the utility delivers.
Large-scale, tanker-sized imports by HawaiiGas
>> Converting LNG back to gas for delivery would happen in facility aboard offshore vessel, posing the least environmental impact.
>> Flexible contracts would be negotiated so that the production of renewables locally would not be restricted.
>> Target date of operation is 2019.
Containerized imports by Hawaiian Electric to displace oil for power generation
>> Request for proposals has narrowed the search, with a contractor to be named in the coming weeks.
>> Operation likely will involve a firm in British Columbia to liquefy gas extracted locally, with another to be named to handle shipment.
