The Energy Transition in Hawaii: Focus on investments in people and projects

There are many ways to invest in the future of energy in Hawaii. It will take creativity and hard work from project developers; the community, including indigenous groups; regulators; and energy service providers to come up with projects that are acceptable for all concerned. Building trust and respect between stakeholders within the context of equitable community development will be a key metric of success. Any viable project will require substantial amounts of financial capital and an adequate return on investment. The skill development and job creation that results must take us towards a new energy economy. Every community faces similar challenges – how can we invest in people while designing energy projects that are financially viable, resilient, and enhance job skills?

The 8th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference was held virtually 22 and 24 June exploring how to invest with knowledge and respect in Hawaii.

Featured Speakers

Keynote Speaker June 22 Suleman Kahn CEO Swell Energy		Invited Speaker June 24 Mark Toney Executive Director The Utility Reform Network
Representative Nicole Lowen Chair, House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, State of Hawaii	Colton Ching Senior Vice President, Planning & Technology, Hawaiian Electric	Ariel Drehobl Local Policy Manager, Energy Equity, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE)	Jennifer Potter Commissioner, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
Dawn Lippert CEO, Elemental Excelerator	Murray Clay President, Ulupono Initiative	Lorraine Akiba President/CEO, LHA Ventures	Rebecca Foster CEO, VEIC
Maria Tome Managing Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hawaii State Energy Office	Alex De Roode Energy Commissioner, Office of Climate Change, Resilience, and Sustainability (CCRS)	Makena Coffman Director, Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, University of Hawaii Mānoa	Scott Glenn Chief Energy Officer, Hawaii State Energy Office
Scott Valentino President, Pacific Current	Suzanne Singer Founder/Executive Director, Native Renewables	Mike Kaleikini Senior Director for Hawaiian Affairs, Ormat	Wren Wescoatt Director of Development, Hawaii, Longroad Energy

“The Hawaii Energy Conference provides a vital service to our state by convening policy-makers and stakeholders to discuss our energy future. As we all work together to help Hawaii stabilize and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is especially important to embrace innovative technology, policies and regulation within the renewable energy sector, which will help protect our natural environment, shielding our island state from volatile world fossil fuel markets, strengthening its overall resilience, and aid in its economic recovery.”
– Murray Clay, President of Ulupono Initiative