We didn't know that Maui Electric's generating plant in Ma'alaea uses biodoesel to start up and shut down its generators. Now the next step is taking place. A refining facility which will turn palm-oil into fuel for Maui Electric's generators is going to be built across from the Maui Landfill on Pulahu Road.

In making the announcement today, MECO President Ed Reinhardt said the project will be a first step toward eliminating use of imported petroleum-based fuel at the utility's 215-megawatt Ma'alaea Power Plant, which supplies about 85 percent of the island's electrical capacity…The refinery is scheduled to be in service by 2009, producing 40 million gallons per year of biodiesel from palm oil imported from plantations around the Pacific Rim and South America, said Landis Maez, a managing partner in BlueEarth Biofuels, which will operate the plant.

While there is nothing in the article about how Palm is grown and harvested, nor regarding the costs to the Maui consumer of this approach, nor what the pollution issues are that arise from burning Palm oil (if any), on the face of this it seems like an excellent step.