Hawaii's first microturbine generator tested.(by Hawaiian Electric Co.)(Brief Article)

Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. is testing the first microturbine generator in Hawaii, and hopes to have a better idea in the next few months as to how to incorporate the technology into its overall electricity distribution system.

Heco is one of 40 utilities nationwide to receive the microturbine as part of a research project with the Electric Power Institute, says David Waller, manager of the utility's energy services department.

"The purpose of the project is to really know, learn and understand the technology and see how it might be applied in the future' Waller says. "We want to make sure we know what the impact is of the electricity it produces at our …