Three of the state's largest environmental groups have joined solar photovoltaic installation firms in protesting a proposal by Hawaiian Electric Co. to block new installations of the systems on the Big Island, Maui, Länai and Molokai.

The Blue Planet Foundation, Earthjustice and the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club said the proposal, filed by HECO at the state Public Utilities Commission, marks a "huge step backward" for the state's efforts to wean itself off imported oil.

HECO said it wants a moratorium while the issue of how growing amounts of intermittent energy generators affects the reliability and stability of its grids.

"Now is not the time to put the brakes on the clean energy industry, local jobs and customer choice," said Jeff Mikulina, Blue Planet Foundation executive director.