Note 15 - Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	NOTE 15 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Swap contract on natural gas prices On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a NGI swap contract for notional volume of approximately 4.2 million MMbtus with a bank for settlement effective January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014, in order to reduce its exposure to NGI below $4.103 per MMbtu under its PPAs with Southern California Edison. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date. The swap contract has monthly settlements whereby the difference between the fixed price of $4.103 per MMbtu and the market price on the first commodity business day on which the relevant commodity reference price is published in the relevant calculation period (January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2014) will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as a hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Swap contract on New York Harbor ULSD On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a New York Harbor ULSD swap contract for notional volume of 275,000 BBL with a bank effective from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014 to reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in the energy rate caused by fluctuations in oil prices under the 25 MW PPA for the Puna complex. The Company entered into this contract because the swap had a high correlation with the avoided costs (which are incremental costs that the power purchaser avoids by not having to generate such electrical energy itself or purchase it from others) that HELCO uses to calculate the energy rate. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date ($125.15 per BBL). The swap contract has monthly settlements whereby the difference between the fixed price and the monthly average market price will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as a hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Cash dividend On November 5, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $1.8 million ($0.04 per share) to all holders of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on November 20, 2013. The dividend will be payable on December 4, 2013.

Note 15 - Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

NOTE 15 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Swap contract on natural gas prices

On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a NGI swap contract for notional volume of approximately 4.2 million MMbtus with a bank for settlement effective January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014, in order to reduce its exposure to NGI below $4.103 per MMbtu under its PPAs with Southern California Edison. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date. The swap contract has monthly settlements whereby the difference between the fixed price of $4.103 per MMbtu and the market price on the first commodity business day on which the relevant commodity reference price is published in the relevant calculation period (January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2014) will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as a hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Swap contract on New York Harbor ULSD

On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a New York Harbor ULSD swap contract for notional volume of 275,000 BBL with a bank effective from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014 to reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in the energy rate caused by fluctuations in oil prices under the 25 MW PPA for the Puna complex. The Company entered into this contract because the swap had a high correlation with the avoided costs (which are incremental costs that the power purchaser avoids by not having to generate such electrical energy itself or purchase it from others) that HELCO uses to calculate the energy rate. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date ($125.15 per BBL). The swap contract has monthly settlements whereby the difference between the fixed price and the monthly average market price will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as a hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Cash dividend

On November 5, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $1.8 million ($0.04 per share) to all holders of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on November 20, 2013. The dividend will be payable on December 4, 2013.