Hawai‘i Powered News

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Hawai‘i Powered News is a quarterly e-news report dedicated to keeping Hawai‘i informed of the latest news and events related to the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative. It is committed to providing the people of Hawai‘i with a transparent, insider's view of the work under way in support of Hawai‘i's clean energy goals. Subscribe to keep up with the latest news and events related to the initiative.

November 10, 2009

News

Photo of Hawai'i Gov. Linda Lingle speaking before a group of reporters at a press conference at the state capitol. On the right side of the photo, Governor Lingle is shown standing at the front of the room behind a podium that sits atop a curved wooden desk. She is wearing a light blue jacket and a traditional Hawaiian in bright red. The room is filled with members of the media and other attendees, some seated in chairs and some standing. Three men seated directly in front of the governor at the center of the photo are wearing leis. In the left foreground are three news cameras, and in the background is a wood-paneled wall featuring two large framed portraits of state dignitaries.

Governor Linda Lingle, at a press conference at the Hawai‘i state capitol, speaks to a group of reporters about the strides made toward a clean energy future in just one year.

Governor Celebrates Clean Energy Successes, Stresses Urgency of Staying the Course

On October 29, Gov. Linda Lingle marked the one-year anniversary of a landmark agreement between the State of Hawai‘i and Hawaiian Electric companies, celebrating the strides that have already been made toward a clean energy future for Hawai‘i. Aimed at moving Hawai‘i away from its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity and ground transportation, the State-Hawaiian Electric agreement was spawned by the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), a partnership formed in January 2008 between the State of Hawai‘i and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to work toward meeting 70% of Hawai‘i's energy needs with clean energy by 2030.

Over the past year, HCEI has worked to advance the 70% goal by driving critical regulatory reforms and fostering increased renewable energy generation.

Key reforms, including feed-in tariffs and decoupling, provide incentives for renewable energy developers and utilities to invest in renewable energy in Hawai‘i by mitigating risk and reducing up-front costs.

As an example of Hawai‘i's progress toward more sustainable renewable energy generation, the governor pointed to First Wind's Kaheawa wind farm on Maui, which generates 30 MW of power on conservation land and is the first operating wind farm in the United States to have a habitat conservation plan.

"It has been a remarkable year, and we need to continue to build upon HCEI's success," said Governor Lingle. "A clean energy future is no longer simply a desire; it is an absolute necessity," she said, noting that Hawai‘i is the most oil-dependent state in the nation.

Calling for "unprecedented unity of purpose and willingness to cooperate among individuals, businesses, institutions and government in Hawai‘i," Hawaiian Electric Executive Vice President Robbie Alm challenged all to "stay focused on making the long-term investments to get to a clean energy future."

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State Forges Ahead with Interisland Power Cable

Energy Office Lays Groundwork for Environmental Impact Statement

The State of Hawai‘i is moving forward with plans to study the environmental impact of a proposed undersea cable that would connect the island energy grids, allowing renewable wind power generated in Maui County to be transmitted to O‘ahu. On October 30, the state issued a request for proposal (RFP) from companies and other interested organizations to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed power cable.

The power cable connecting the islands of Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Maui is critical to achieving the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative's (HCEI's) goal of 70% clean energy by 2030. Without it, initial analysis has shown, Hawai‘i would be unable to meet 40% of its energy needs from renewable sources, a key component of the 70% goal.

Because environmental and economic sustainability are also central to HCEI, the state considers addressing environmental concerns associated with the cable project a top priority. "The interisland cable project is an important piece of infrastructure needed to achieve the goal of the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative," said Gov. Linda Lingle. "We are committed to making sure all environmental, economic, cultural and community issues are fully addressed."

The EIS will consider the impacts from the installation, operation, maintenance, repairs, and potential long-term development of the interisland power cable, as well as identify mitigation strategies and alternatives. The structured public process of the EIS will enable island communities and other stakeholders to understand the impact of the undersea cable. The state expects to award the contract by the end of the calendar year.

For more information on the RFP, see State and County Procurement Notices on the State of Hawai‘i's Web site.

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U.S. Pacific Command Implementing Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficiency Projects

Aligning itself with Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative goals, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), located on the island of O'ahu, aims to get 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. In addition to supporting the clean energy agenda of the larger Hawai‘i community of which it is part, PACOM needs to meet federal clean energy mandates to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil fuel for security reasons.

To ramp up this effort, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to PACOM. The federal funds will support technical assistance projects aimed at bringing advanced energy efficiency, renewable power generation, and microgrid technologies to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) installations in Hawai‘i and the Pacific region. In Hawai‘i, DOD assets are responsible for 15% of electricity consumption.

Various national laboratories are involved with the PACOM effort and will provide staff and research capabilities on projects such as:

  • Comprehensive building energy-efficiency assessments and training on O‘ahu for DOD staff
  • Solar-powered air-conditioning technology evaluations on Navy and Marine Corps sites
  • Energy assessment, data center assessment, and building decommissioning trainings
  • Microgrid energy security analysis and assessment at the Pohokaloa Training Area on the Big Island.

PACOM encompasses about half the earth's surface, stretching from the West Coast of the United States to the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole. PACOM military personnel account for approximately one-fifth of total U.S. military strength. With such a large presence, PACOM's energy-efficiency and renewable energy efforts could have far-reaching impacts on reducing energy use worldwide.

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More Than $9.5 Million Awarded to Improve Hawai‘i's Buildings Sector

In September 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded more than $9.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants to Hawai‘i. The grants will fund efforts to improve energy efficiency in the state's buildings sector and implement renewable energy technologies in state government buildings.

The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) applied for the grants in June 2009. Having secured the funding, DBEDT is partnering with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Department of Accounting and General Services to implement projects such as:

  • Installing solar water heaters and compact fluorescent lamps in about 400 homestead homes, which will help reduce household electricity bills by approximately 30% annually—the equivalent of five barrels of oil per year per household
  • Installing 100 kW photovoltaic energy systems on state office buildings in downtown Honolulu, which will generate more than 167,000 kWh of electricity and cut carbon emissions by more than 320,000 pounds per year.

Additionally, DBEDT expects the ARRA funding will generate 124 local construction jobs and add more than $5.7 million in income to Hawai‘i's economy. The city of Honolulu and the counties of Hawai‘i, Maui, and Kauai‘i are eligible for more than $5.4 million in additional funding, which will be allocated based on population and other factors. Applications are being reviewed and negotiated with state and local officials.

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Illustration of a home showcasing solartube skylights, photovoltaic and hot water solar panels, fiber board siding (recycled material), high SRI roofing, a pervious concrete driveway, high performance glazing, a light-colored and insulated roof, high efficiency appliances, low VOC finishes, and an insulated exterior wall.

Homes in the Ke Kaiāulu Ho‘owaiwai village will incorporate various renewable energy and energy efficiency features, such as those highlighted in the illustration of one of two models shown here. The village will be the first net-zero community in the United States.

Ke Kaiāulu Ho‘owaiwai Strives to Become the First Net-Zero Community in United States

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is partnering with the Hawaiian Electric Company, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and others to build the net-zero affordable housing community of Ke Kaiāulu Ho‘owaiwai, "The Prospering Community," in Wai‘anae, O‘ahu. The first two homes are expected to be built by spring, and the entire 18-home village is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.

The community was designed based on the premise that a home can use less energy, conserve water, use recycled construction materials, and still provide a healthy indoor environment. That aligns with the village's vision of creating a sustainable community that embraces Hawaiian natives' cultural ideal of protecting the natural habitats and environments of the islands. With that in mind, the village aims to be the first net-zero community in the United States—a community that produces as much energy as it consumes. Additionally, developers plan for the community to attain several certifications, including LEED Platinum, Enterprise Affordable Home, and Hawai‘i BuiltGreen.

"This project provides a demonstration of affordable zero-energy buildings for Hawai‘i," said NREL Senior Project Leader Paul Norton, who will be monitoring air-conditioner usage, indoor temperature, and humidity, and their impact on each home's overall energy consumption.

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Photo of (from left to right) a woman in brown pants with a yellow and brown striped button-down shirt on. She wears a blue shirt underneath and a blue lanyard hangs around her neck. The man to the right has on a blue and white plaid shirt and gray pants.  The two stand in front of a set of white cylinders. The cylinder behind the woman has a series of black pipes traveling horizontally behind it and  a blue sticker that reads Ace Roto-Mold and a red and white sticker beneath with writing and Warning written at the top. A white bar code can also be seen. A white overhang is above with green pipes coming out of it. Green pipes are also hanging next to the woman on the left. 

Dr. Heidi Kuehnle, President and CEO, and Mark Ritchie, Head of Business Development, at Kuehnle AgroSystems Inc. Honolulu operations.

Kuehnle AgroSystems Receives Funding for Algae-to-Biofuel Feasibility Study

Kuehnle AgroSystems (KAS) has won a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award from the Office of Naval Research to conduct feasibility analysis on processes to produce cost-effective biofuel oils from KAS' algae feedstock.

A Honolulu-based agro-biotech company founded in 2007, KAS specializes in tailoring algae strains for customer needs, environment, and target end-products. The company's technologies enable diverse industrial production for nutraceutical, feed, diagnostics, and specialty chemicals in algae and other plant platforms.

During Phase I of the project, KAS will assemble the various technology players, including its technology partner, Washington State-based Inventure Chemical Technology, and gather input from stakeholders via O‘ahu's economic development board, Enterprise Honolulu, to:

  • Ensure access to technical capability that is modular and deployable
  • Convert cost estimates as targets for Phase II
  • Conduct analyses of military and other lands for direct conversion to biofuel.

By demonstrating the feasibility of producing biodiesel derived from renewable, domestic resources based on nonedible bio-oils, KAS believes the project could alleviate fuel-cost burden for the U.S. Navy. Committed to reducing the overall carbon footprint in Hawai‘i, KAS will incorporate the most sustainable methods in every step of its process, including using waste water for algae production.

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Feed-in Tariffs Will Provide Set Rates for Electricity from Renewables

In late September 2009, the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a decision to use feed-in tariffs (FITs) for electricity produced by photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, onshore wind, and in-line hydropower sources in Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i will be one of the first states in the nation with such a progressive policy, which provides a set of standardized and published purchased power rates that utilities will pay for each type of renewable energy resource based on project size and amount of energy fed to the grid.

The decision also caps the total amount of FIT projects brought onto the grid at 5% of the system peak on O‘ahu, Maui, and the Big Island for the first two years. FIT rates will be determined in the coming months. They will be based on the cost and profit of a typical project and will be differentiated by technology or resource, size, and interconnection costs. The FIT policy will be reevaluated two years after it becomes effective and every three years thereafter.

The policy secures grid access for clean energy developers and establishes a standard 20-year contract for renewable energy. By providing a set a price for renewable energy, the policy is designed to ensure a predictable ROI for developers and provide stability for future renewable energy prices. Clean energy advocates believe FIT projects will benefit Hawai‘i by reducing oil imports and increasing energy security and jobs.

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Asia-Pacific Summit Highlights Potential for Advancing Clean Energy in the Region

More than 600 attendees from 11 counties participated in the first annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo, August 31 – September 3, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. The summit focused on raising awareness of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies that can be implemented in the Asia-Pacific region, including wind, ocean, geothermal, and solar energy.

The four-day event brought together government policy makers, industry professionals, and clean energy experts from the region to discuss a wide range of topics, from energy policies and initiatives to current clean energy success stories. Gov. Linda Lingle spoke about the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative and its goal of reaching 70% clean energy by 2030.

Kim Huntley, director of the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Energy Support Center, noted that the summit was "a great value for everyone," providing "an outstanding venue to bring together the branches of service that are substantial energy users on the islands" as well as "a wonderful opportunity for building partnerships between Hawai‘i and other countries."

Learn more about this year's event and watch a video of Governor Lingle's remarks. Event planners are preparing for the second annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo, to be held August 30 – September 2, 2010.

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Department of Energy
State of Hawaii