Hawaiian Electric talking with A&B over possible bioenergy tie-up

In Hawaii, Alexander & Baldwin has caused panic across much of the Maui economy due to the company’s decision to stop producing sugarcane, a decision that has led to eventual layoffs for 675 plantation employees, but Hawaiian Electric is stepping in to discuss potential use of that land to grow energy crops or produce other types of renewable energy. The utility said it has explored various possible energy crops as well as technologies that could be a good fit for the archipelago.