The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the state of Hawaii have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a long-term partnership designed to transform the state's energy system to one that uses renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies for a significant portion of its energy needs. The partnership aims to put Hawaii on a path to supply 70% of its energy needs using clean energy by 2030.
‘With an abundance of natural resources and environmental treasures, Hawaii is the ideal location to showcase the broad benefits of renewable energy at work on an unprecedented scale,’ says Alexander Karsner, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the DOE. ‘Hawaii's success will serve as an integrated model and demonstration test bed for the United States and other island communities globally, many of which are just beginning the transition to a clean energy economy.’
DOE will work with Hawaii to further the potential of its natural resources, including wind, sun and bioenergy resources. DOE will engage experts in clean energy technology development to help Hawaii launch several projects with public- and private-sector partners that target early opportunities and critical needs for Hawaii's transition to a clean energy economy, including:
– designing cost-effective approaches for the exclusive use of renewable energy on smaller islands,
– designing systems to improve stability of electric grids operating with variable generating sources, such as wind power plants on the islands of Hawaii and Maui, and
– assisting in the development of comprehensive energy regulatory and policy frameworks for promoting clean energy technology use.
