Renewable energy can be as significant for Hawai'i's economy as tourism. We are blessed with abundant renewable energy resources-solar, wind, ocean, geothermal--that can be the foundation for a robust alternate energy industry.
Energy Action Plan:
Direct the Hawai'i State Energy Office to execute policies and programs to develop a clean energy industry in Hawai'i, including training and hiring a strong local workforce.
Work with key stakeholders to address and overcome the challenges in meeting
more aggressively our Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative goals and targets by modernizing the electrical grid, determining the proper mix of fuels at affordable cost, and working with the counties to reduce fossil fuel use in ground transportation.
Support state-of-the-art technology that increases distributed generation and power sharing between consumers, and enabling installation of rooftop solar systems.
Create programs and incentives to increase clean energy production in Hawai'i.
Q: Would you support using liquefied natural gas as part of the state's energy sources?
A: Hawaii should develop an electric utility platform that allows it to generate electricity from a portfolio of fuels. I believe it is premature to make a
decision on long-term use and importation of LNG at this time until we can determine its impact long- and short-range. In the meantime, we should continue to support energy efficiency/conservation, PV/solar, wind and other renewable technologies to
achieve clean energy goals.
Q: What thoughts do you have on improving the electric distribution system (the grid) so more renewables can be in the mix?
A: I will push for more investment in renewable energy and take action to increase the amount of
rooftop solar that ratepayers can install. Rooftop PV is currently one of the best renewable energy sources in Hawaii. I'll push for grid technology that allows for increasing amounts of distributed generation and power sharing between consumers.
100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2045
In addition to HI Growth, the state has undertaken other initiatives that utilize innovation to grow the bottom line. A good example is Hawaii's Clean Energy Mandate. Our goal of generating 100 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2045
is good for both our economy and the environment.
The mandate has stimulated demand for clean tech innovations, many of them running through our Hawaii Energy Excelerator. Together, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island, currently obtains 25 percent
of our electricity from renewable sources. On Kauai the figure is 40 percent. With 65 renewable energy projects across the state, we are on schedule to meet our 2020 target for increasing renewable energy use. Earlier this month, the state's largest
operating solar facility in Waianae successfully placed 28 megawatts into commercial operation. On Kauai, the nation's first closed-loop, bio-mass to electricity plant began operations near Koloa, fueled by albizia and eucalyptus trees.
30% renewable energy by 2020; carbon negative by 2045
With a flurry of commercial solar projects in the pipeline and local homeowners' enthusiasm for residential solar power, we will meet our 2020 energy goal of attaining 30% of our energy needs from renewable sources. The significance of this initial
pivot to clean and renewable energy cannot be overstated. We have become a leader in this effort, and our actions have inspired other states to follow. Since we set a goal to become carbon negative by 2045, four other states have followed our lead.
Source: 2020 Hawaii State of the State address
, Jan 21, 2020
Capture more carbon that we produce by 2045
We know that the climate crisis is real. Hawai'i was the first state to set a goal of 100-percent renewable energy by 2045, with 12 other states following our lead.
Still--experiencing first-hand the severe impacts of climate change--we know that net-zero carbon emission is not good enough. That's why Hawai'i became the first state to commit to a net-negative goal by 2045 to capture more carbon than we produce.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Hawaii legislature
, Jan 24, 2022