NEWS US Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk will present the Keynote Address at the Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum’s 20th Anniversary Legislative Briefing on January 12 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Prior to his nomination as Deputy Secretary, Turk was the Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), where he focused on helping countries around the world tackle their clean energy transitions. He also directed reports on the digitalization of energy…

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Connect with leaders in climate change action in the state at Hawaiʻi Climate Week, Jan 9-12. What problems has climate change caused in the state and how are we addressing them? Looking through the lens of natural solutions, Climate Week will explore the challenges and solutions of climate change in Hawaiʻi, culminating in the Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forumʻs 2023 Legislative Briefing on January 12. Registration is open for sessions including: Monday, January 9, 9:00am-5:00pm: Hawaiʻi Climate Action Day…

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The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum presented its efforts in tracking clean energy policy and considering the implications for Hawaii residents. There are two major recent pieces of legislation that provide federal funding for clean energy programs, The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and The Inflation Reduction Act. HEPF staff members Mitch Ewan and Adam Strubeck discussed these bills on the webshow Hawaii: State of Clean Energy: The Inflation Reduction Act https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lfJ8VZ4gPo Bipartisan Infrastructure Law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SNMQB23zg

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The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum invites community members to participate in Resilient and Renewable Energy Community Workshops taking place across several locations on O’ahu in October and November. These workshops will aid Hawaiian Electric in identifying areas that will benefit from developing microgrids, improving energy resilience and self-sufficiency.

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Hawaiian Electric Presents Renewable Energy Zones on ThinkTech Hawaii Show: State of Clean Energy On Thursday, September 15th, a representative from Hawaiian Electric, Mr. Ken Aramaki, presented their study on Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) on the ThinkTech Hawaii show: State of Clean Energy. Check out the show, hosted by HEPF’s Mitch Ewan, to learn more about the Integrated Grid Planning Process, Renewable Energy Zones, and Hawaiian Electric’s Community Engagement. https://youtu.be/36ZDxDHCS-M The presentation can be downloaded…

Continue Reading Hawaiian Electric Presents Renewable Energy Zones on Web Show Hawaii: State of Clean Energy

HEPF Presents Resilience Webinar with NREL and Hawaiian Electric Company The Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum held an interactive webinar for HEPF members and energy stakeholders on a map under design to identify locations for advanced microgrids on O‘ahu. Moderated by HEPF Chair, Mark Glick, the webinar featured presentations by data scientist, Katy Waechter, of NREL and Ken Aramaki, who directs transmission, distribution and interconnection planning at Hawaiian Electric Company, regarding initial designs of maps that…

Continue Reading HEPF Presents Resilience Webinar with NREL and Hawaiian Electric Company

August 16, 2022 ICYMI:President Biden Op-Ed: 3 things everyone should know about the Inflation Reduction ActYahoo News: 3 things everyone should know about the Inflation Reduction Act[President Joe Biden, 8/16/22]Today, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law — one of the most significant laws in recent history. With this law, the American people won and special interests lost. The Inflation Reduction Act does so many things that so many of us have fought to make happen for…

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KIUC Chief Executive Testifies Before Congress David Bissell, the President and CEO of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), testified at the Energy Subcommittee Hearing On Pathways To Lower Energy Prices on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.  Among the topics he covered were the important role of federal incentives to KIUC’s success, such as the investment tax credit.  Mr. Bissell also spoke of his support for a direct pay option for not-for-profits to be able to receive…

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Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) Update The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) provides technical assistance to remote, island, and islanded communities to assist in energy transition of energy systems and to improve energy resilience through innovative energy planning and deployment.  HNEI is a regional partner of ETIPP and is pleased to announced the twelve communities that selected under a competitive process nationally for ETIPP in 2022.  Go to…

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Update This week, US Department of Energy reported the following funding announcements: Funding Opportunity Award (FOA)  Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships  Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) FY22 Funding Announcement  40101D Formula Grants to States & Indian Tribes     I2X launch (Interconnection and Innovation Exchange)   Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second – Life Applications Program    Photovoltaics Research and Development  Community Geothermal Energy  Solar Manufacturing Incubator  American Made Solar Prize Round Six  Energyshed:  Exploring…

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Award-winning author and UCSB professor Leah Stokes explains why cleaning up the electricity sector (and advancing electrification) is so vital to preventing the worst effects of climate change.

Continue Reading Our Clean-Energy Future: The Case for a Faster, Bolder Transition

We discuss why public transportation is important to the local economy and to the quality of life and social justice on the Big Island. We describe the County of Hawai’i’s public transportation vision and how that vision is being implemented through a variety of new programs.

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An update on the latest hydrogen infrastructure, a new HNEI fueling station located at the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawai’i Authority (NELHA) on the island of Hawai’i. The new station has just come on line, and has just completed the first hydrogen fill of the first public transportation fuel cell electric bus in Hawai’i. What this means for the County of Hawai’i, the state of Hawai’i, its citizens, and the march towards a decarbonized public transportation system.

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HECO’s Customer-sited Energy Programs – Lani Shinsato is Hawaiian Electric’s Customer Energy Resources co-director and we discuss and answer questions about some of Hawaiian Electric’s innovative customer-sited energy programs — including Battery Bonus — and how these programs are helping Hawai’i achieve its decarbonization goals.

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The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) partners with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) to help remote, island, and islanded communities transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience.

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Energy Transitions Initiative – Mark Glick presents the information regarding cohort 2 of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program (ETIPP) which provides technical assistance to remote and island communities to carry out energy transition projects.

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With the recently passed $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (aka, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill), the Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum has been tracking the federal funding opportunities related to new energy, ports and waterways, resilience, and transportation programs to help support Hawai’i’s transition to a clean energy future.

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The Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum held the 2022 Legislative Briefing on Friday, January 28th. The theme for this year was “What are the biggest gaps in Hawai’i’s energy infrastructure and how can the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act begin to fill them?”. With the recently passed $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (aka, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill), HEPF’s 2022 Legislative Briefing presented an expert view of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill with two sessions to address the most vulnerable aspects of Hawai‘i’s energy infrastructure.

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2022 Legislative Briefing Preview – The Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum (HEPF) plans to coordinate an open and frank dialogue and investigation on the most pressing gaps in Hawai’i’s energy transition and what policy interventions are needed to continue to drive and guide change.

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The Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum’s Future – As the Forum transitions to a new leadership team under HNEI, HEPF graduate assistant Megan Russell, describes the vision and plans for the Forum going forward from 2022 and beyond including broader membership, more outreach, and analytics-based.

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The News from Hawaiian Electric and HEPF – Shannon Tengonan of Hawaiian Electric helps us understand the companies 2030 carbon emissions reduction plan, how it will affect renewables in the company’s operating area, the bills consumers will have to pay, and sustainable energy going forward. Mark Glick of HNEI will help us understand the background and current revitalization of the Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum, its new outreach and analytics-based approach, and its plans for the future.

Continue Reading Hawai’i: State of Clean Energy Show – The News from Hawaiian Electric and HEPF

We’re pleased to inform you that the Hawai’i Energy Policy Forum (HEPF) has been reestablished in the fall of 2021 as a program of the Hawai’i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI). While the mission and vision remain the same, please check back for exciting updates on HEPF’s relaunch and upcoming events like the Legislative Briefing and Energy Day later in the year.

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