Hawaii
Energy Policy Forum > HEP Project > Project Description
Project Description
Background
Hawai‘i, like many other states, has an energy policy
that calls for reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels
by increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable
energy resources. Despite innumerable plans and studies of
energy options over the last three decades, Hawai’i’s
dependence on imported fossil fuels has actually increased.
This is partly due to the closing of sugar plantations, which
burned bagasse for energy. It is also partly due to the cost
and pricing structure of alternative energy compared to imported
fossil fuels, and the way energy production and sales are
regulated in Hawai‘i.
It is clear that to attain a
preferred energy future for Hawai‘i, a collaborative
effort of government, business, and community is necessary.
Thus, the University of Hawai‘i
convened Hawai‘i’s major energy stakeholders
as the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum in May 2002. The
purpose of the Forum is to develop an energy vision for the
year 2030 and to formulate a strategy to ensure its implementation.
The Forum is a unique experiment in collaborative energy
policy making. It includes representatives of the electric
utilities; oil and natural gas suppliers; environmental groups;
the renewable energy industry; the state legislature; federal,
state and county agencies; the general business community;
and major energy consumers (see Forum
Members).
The Forum
is designed to facilitate discussion of a preferred energy
future and the relevant issues and constraints. In
addition to the usual energy economics and technology questions,
the Forum considers the roles of energy planning agencies,
the Public Utilities Commission, and the Legislature in energy
decision-making. The intent is to incorporate as many different
perspectives and the broadest possible experience into the
design of a flexible, forward-looking energy strategy that
provides environmentally friendly, renewable, safe, reliable,
and affordable energy for the State.
Project Plan
The University received an initial grant from Hawaiian Electric
Company to convene the Forum. Existing grant funds are being
used for background studies, meetings, a consultant and support
staff. The expertise and time of the UH Directors of the
Hawai’i Natural Energy Institute, the Environmental
Center, and the Social Science Research Institute, and faculty
from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning—along
with that of the Forum members—is being donated to
this project. (See Project Team)
The
Forum formulated the following as a vision statement:
"We
will have environmentally friendly, renewable, safe, reliable,
and affordable energy resources. Our energy technology
and systems will be efficient, with the best available emission
controls; decentralized; meet consumers’ needs; and
maximize the use of Hawai‘i’s energy assets.
Hawai‘i will encourage investment in energy system
development and continually assess energy development options
based on a full accounting of costs and benefits.“
The
Forum also identified six critical studies to support development
of the energy strategy:
- Hydrocarbons outlook
- Environmental requirements on energy
producers
- Regulation, taxation and incentives
- Social, economic and
cultural issues
- Renewable and unconventional energy
- Reducing Hawai‘i’s energy demand through
increased efficiency
(See Technical & Policy Papers.)
In lieu of a commissioned study on social, economic and cultural
issues, the Forum established working groups to meet with
members of the community to discuss the relevant issues. (See
Working Groups.)
Once the energy studies were completed, the Energy Policy
Forum assessed results and recommendations and took these
to the Energy Policy Summit. The Summit provided an opportunity
for a broader cross-section of the community to deliberate
on the issues, recommendations, and action plans required
to achieve the preferred energy vision for Hawaii. Based on
the studies and recommendations from the Summit, the Forum
developed recommendations for legal, regulatory and policy
changes to move toward a new energy future for Hawaii. The
Forum will also work to galvanize public support to ensure
implementation of these recommendations.
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