Policy Reports
Energy programs and policy are administered for the state of Hawai‘i by its Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). Most major policy and analysis reports about energy in Hawai‘i are written either by or for DBEDT. Many of these reports can be accessed via the DBEDT Web site. The following are some of the more significant reports pertaining to Hawai‘i energy policy. (Direct links to DBEDT PDFs follow the titles or open from the publications page linked above.)
The following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
Decoupling Policies: Options to Encourage Energy Efficiency Policies for Utilities, Clean Energy Policies in States and Communities (PDF 809 KB)
Published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in January 2010, this brochure explains how a well-designed decoupling strategy can be a win-win for utility companies and consumers by helping keep utility profits steady and customers' energy costs in check—and removing the disincentive for utilities to promote energy efficiency programs.
Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative Working Group Policy Recommendations for the 2010 Hawai‘i State Legislative Session
Completed in November 2009, this collaborative effort by the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative working groups is a compilation of state energy policy recommendations presented for consideration by the Hawai'i State Legislature for the 2010 legislative session. The policies discussed in the report are categorized according to the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative's four primary areas of focus: end-use efficiency, transportation, fuels, and electricity. In compiling the report, the HCEI working groups based their recommendations on underlying analysis provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Booz Allen Hamilton. The report is presented in four parts:
- Part 1—Introduction, Recommended Policies for a Clean Energy Transition, Conclusion, and Appendix 1: Dissent (PDF 319 KB)
- Part 2—Appendix 2: Analysis of Recommended Policies (PDF 1.1 MB)
- Part 3—Appendix 3: Analysis of Policies Discussed but not Recommended for LY2010 (PDF 1.1 MB)
- Appendix 4—References (PDF 322 KB)
Hawai‘i Energy Strategy 2000 (PDF 2.1 MB)
Completed in January 2000 by the Energy, Resources, and Technology Division of DBEDT, Hawai‘i Energy Strategy 2000 is the foundational document for Hawai‘i energy policy.
Policy Recommendations for Hawai‘i's Energy Future (PDF 9.2 MB)
Prepared for DBEDT by the Rocky Mountain Institute, this March 2008 report reviews previous policy recommendations under the Hawai‘i Energy Strategy Program, describes Hawai‘i energy resources and use, and makes specific policy recommendations—8 for the electric utility sector, 12 for the transportation sector, 5 for the buildings sector, and 9 that are cross-sectoral.
Potential for Ethanol Production in Hawai‘i (PDF 567 KB)
This December 2006 report was prepared for DEBDT by the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute of the University of Hawai‘i. It estimates potential ethanol production for Hawai‘i based on available acreage suitable for four crops: sugar cane, banagrass, fast-growing trees, and a combination of sugar cane and fast-growing trees. If the latter were grown on all suitable agriculturally zoned land, the report projects that more than 700 million gallons of ethanol could be produced per year.
Analysis of the Impact of Petroleum Prices on the State of Hawai‘i's Economy (PDF 1.0 MB)
This U.S. Congress-directed August 2007 report was prepared for DEBDT by the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute of the University of Hawai‘i. The study analyzes the impact that sudden or gradual increases in the price of oil would have on Hawai‘i's economy with its great dependence on oil for energy.
Bioenergy Master Plan Progress Report to Legislature (PDF 691 KB)
This is a DBEDT status report on a major effort to plan for bioenergy production in Hawai‘i that is slated for completion during 2009.
Report to the 2009 Hawaii State Legislature—Lead by Example—State of Hawai‘i Agencies' Energy Initiatives—FY 2007–2008 (PDF 3.5 MB)
This is the most recent of a series of DBEDT reports on use of energy efficiency and renewable energy by agencies of the Hawai‘i state government.
The Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa has also issued a large number of energy policy reports accessible from its Web site.
