Modernizing permitting is needed for us to meet our energy goals.
Hawaii residents pay 43 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity. The national average is 18 cents. In the way of solutions that can fix this issue is our permitting framework.
I make the case in an op-ed published recently by Honolulu Civil Beat. The single most effective thing lawmakers can do right now to bring rates down is make it faster and easier to permit and build clean energy in Hawaii.
What will it take to electrify the Hawaiian economy?
Our co-authored report, three years in the making and in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Finland’s (GTK) Dr. Simon Michaux, is now available. This report aims to establish baseline, scenario-driven models for the electrical power required to electrify the Hawaii economy without using fossil fuels.
Geothermal for Energy Resilience
SEH recently wrote an opinion piece for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, extolling the value of properly developed geothermal energy systems and highlighting the role that community engagement plays in ensuring sustainable solutions.
Renew, Rebuild Hawaii Webinar: Decarbonization or Energy Transition?
The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) and Hawaiian Electric, each commissioned their own unique assessments on the future of energy use in Hawaii. Each addresses the common problem that the assumptions made in 2008 to calculate the amount of renewable energy needed to reach its 100% clean fuel goals by 2045 are no longer valid.
Hawaii Island’s Geothermal Potential
The potential of geothermal resources in areas outside of Lower Puna made the news recently, with the report presented to the Hawaiian Homes Commission. The report by the Geothermal Permitted Interaction Group mentions Maunakea and Kawaihae as promising locations for geothermal energy generation.
Trash to Fuel
Gasification technology is being used to generate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from trash. SAF is a lower-carbon footprint biofuel that can help reduce the environmental impact of aviation. This Wall Street Journal video explains the opportunity.
Image by John McArthur
A truly sustainable, resilient energy economy
…for solutions to be truly sustainable, we must focus on their full life-cycle impact — their global carbon emission and environmental impact, based on what’s required to produce, transport, use, recycle and dispose of them. Doing this allows us to understand the “cradle to cradle” costs and dependencies of a solution and helps us deliver those with the lowest environmental costs. It will also ensure that our solutions can be sustained into the distant future.
Green Hydrogen’s Role in Energy Security, Resilience and Independence
The energy crisis has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, but our energy challenge predates this geopolitical conflict. The war has highlighted the frailty of the energy system and the nature of our fossil fuel dependence on almost everything - electricity, transportation, industry, heating, and food. This is especially being felt in Europe, where prices are high, and there is a scramble to secure energy for the coming winter. Importantly, it spotlights the need to accelerate the development of renewable energy solutions, particularly those with low lifecycle carbon (not reliant on fossil fuels) and those that address needs that cannot be electrified.
SEH Leadership Transition
Richard Ha, the founder of Sustainable Energy Hawaii, has reached the end of his term as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Richard will continue as an Ex-Officio member of our board and will join our Advisory Council going forward.
The gift within…
Geothermal energy is an incredible resource that is being leveraged by many across the globe for heating, cooling, and electricity generation. It also holds hope for a planet that is so energy-dependent and desperately needs to cut emissions from burning fossil fuels.
This TED Talk explains geothermal energy's potential and how the fossil fuel industry might leverage its technical proficiency to harvest this energy.