Global Energy Summit Puts Spotlight on Hawai`i

The three-day global energy summit, organized by the Honolulu-based Blue Planet Foundation, aims to initiate an ongoing international dialogue to generate positive change in world energy culture.

“Clean, renewable energy is the future,” Lt. Governor Aiona told energy experts, environmentalists and public and private sector leaders from across country who gathered for the summit. “This isn’t simply a desire – it’s a necessity. Hawai`i must change.”

Hawai`i is the most oil-dependent state in the nation, relying on oil for approximately 90 percent of its energy. Additionally, 99 percent of the state’s oil comes from foreign sources.

“Our residents, businesses and government all bear the costs of depending on foreign sources of energy,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “We have an obligation to the citizens of the world to protect the beauty of these islands. To fulfill that obligation, energy independence must be our greatest priority.”

The Blue Planet Summit also highlighted the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, which is an unprecedented and innovative partnership formed in January with the U.S. Department of Energy to use renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, wave and geothermal to supply at least 70 percent of the state’s energy needs by 2030.

“This partnership provides the support for Hawai`i to be a test bed for clean, renewable technology,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “The time for talking and debating is over. We’ve had enough studies and plans. It’s time for action, to actively make things happen.”

On Wednesday, the state announced a new voluntary standard for reporting greenhouse gas emissions by organizations participating in the National Climate Registry. Hawai`i became a founding member of the program last year to track and manage emissions that may contribute to climate change.

On Monday, Governor Lingle announced a collaborative public-private partnership to establish the first wind energy technology program of its kind on Maui as part of the Administration’s ongoing efforts to increase Hawai`i’s energy independence. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the nation’s primary laboratory for energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development, signed the agreement with UPC Wind to establish a partner site at UPC Wind’s Kaheawa Wind Farm on Maui.