Blue Earth Biofuels, which is building a 40-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel refinery with capabilities to go to 120 million gallons, has gotten the green light from the Hawaiian legislature to move forward with the project. But, this article in BizJournals.com, says the company that will buy the biodiesel for electric production, Hawaiian Electric Co., will host a series of meetings with the National Resources Defense Council to look at the feedstock being either locally-grown or imported palm oil:

Estimates show that it will take three to five years for the state to produce enough biofuel for the facilities. Feedstock would be imported during a ramp up of in-state production.

The transition to biodiesel could allow the electric company to move away from oil imports while tapping an energy resource that can be transported between the islands.

Here’s a listing of the public meetings:

Oahu: June 27; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Blaisdell center, Honolulu Stes. 9, 10
Hilo: June 28; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; UH-Hilo, Campus Center 301
Kona: June 29; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Kealakehe High School Dining Hall
Maui: July 2; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Maui Community College