HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaiian Electric is deactivating a power plant in downtown Honolulu that’s nearly a century old.
The utility says it’s able to make the move because customers are using electricity more efficiently and because of renewable energy is growing.
The plant was built in 1920 at the corner of Halekauwila and Alakea Streets. That’s at the harbor where whaling vessels once off-loaded oil used to power Honolulu lamps.
Hawaiian Electric said Friday deactivation will take several months. The plant’s two generating units must be cleaned and the equipment must be preserved to protect it from corrosion. The plant may be reactivated in an emergency.
The utility has already deactivated the Shipman plant on the Big Island. It plans to retire all four units at its Kahului plant by 2019.
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