JERA Americas has filed a letter of intent with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to advance its proposed $2-billion Longboard LNG Project on Oahu. The project would include a 500-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant and an offshore LNG import terminal at Kalaeloa (Barbers Point), providing enough electricity to supply roughly one-third of Oahu's power demand.

As part of the proposal, JERA plans to establish a new wholesale electricity generation company that would be regulated directly by the Public Utilities Commission. The company emphasized that it is not seeking to replace Hawaiian Electric (HECO) as the island's retail electricity provider, but instead to offer an additional source of power generation.

JERA says the project is intended to help Hawaii transition away from oil, which currently fuels about 70% of Oahu's electricity generation. According to the company, replacing oil with natural gas would lower fuel costs, improve electricity affordability, and support investments in modern power infrastructure while meeting the island's growing energy needs.