Gov. David Ige, D-Hawaii, and Dennis V. McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance clean energy opportunities, including working on energy-related issues of mutual benefit, coordinating goals and building partnerships whenever possible.
The MOU – which is between the state of Hawaii, through the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, and the Department of the Navy (DON) – follows a meeting between Ige and ASN McGinn last November. The parties found that the state and DON have similar energy goals relating to the reduction of greenhouse gases and fossil fuels, energy efficiency, water consumption, the use of renewable energy and the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
According to the office of the governor, the MOU aims to leverage the human and financial resources of the state and the Department of Defense toward a shared vision on energy security and self-sufficiency.
“As the single largest customer of Hawaii’s electric utilities, the Department of the Navy and other branches of the military have an enormous impact on our economy through renewable energy and energy efficiency installations. Our collaboration is intended to accelerate our pace to 100 percent renewable energy,” explains Ige.
“We are pleased to formalize an already strong relationship with the great state of Hawaii,” adds McGinn. “We look forward to the many opportunities where the Department of the Navy and the state of Hawaii can develop win-win solutions to energy related challenges.”
The full MOU can be read here.
