The Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC) brings together experts on energy policy, strategies, leadership and innovation. Energy leaders from Hawaii, the Continental U.S., Asia-Pacific and more to exchange ideas on how to better serve our communities in today’s rapidly changing power generation and delivery environment.
The first Energy Conference on Maui was held in 2014 to explore the challenges and opportunities in our nation’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Maui is a locus for major energy initiatives. The island has attracted leading national and international energy players and leads the nation with the highest density of EV usage. Hawaii was the first state to set a goal of being 100% renewable with a target of 2045 and is among the highest in the nation per capita for PV installations.
Originally titled the Maui Energy Conference, the name was changed to Hawaii Energy Conference in 2019 to reflect what it has always been–the premier Energy Conference in Hawaii focused on statewide interests as seen through the prism of national and international developments in energy. From 2020 through to 2022 the conference was held virtually due to COVID-19.
A program committee establishes a theme for each conference, identifies speakers and develops the program featuring keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking and exhibits. Topics covered have included: the future of electric utilities, Hawaii’s progress toward becoming 100% renewable, decarbonization, energy equity, innovation in the industry and more.
Past Conference Topics
2023 | Back at the MACC (a return to in-person conference)
2022 | Electrification: Where are we now? What does the future hold?
2021 | The Energy Transition in Hawaii: Focus on investments in people and projects
2020 | Imagining a Just Recovery. What would that look like for the grid? (Virtual)
2019 | Innovation in Practice
2018 | Decarbonization: A Business Opportunity for Innovative Communities
2017 | All Things Energy: Pursuing New Opportunities for Electricity and Beyond
2016 | 100% Renewable Energy in Hawaii: It’s No Longer A Matter of When
2015 | A Focus on the Customer
2014 | Electric Utilities: The Future Is Not What It Used to Be
Meet the Program Committee
Jacqui Hoover | Chair, Conference Program Committee; Executive Director and COO Hawaii Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB); and President Hawaii Leeward Planning
Damien Kim | Business Manager/Financial Secretary, International Brotherhood Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1186
Jonathan Koehn | Chief Sustainability & Resilience Officer, City of Boulder
Doug McLeod | Member, DKK Energy Services, LLC
Robert “Rocky” Mould | Executive Director, Hawaii Solar Energy Association
Maria Tome | Managing Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hawaii State Energy Office
Wren Wescoatt | Director of Development, Hawaii Longroad Energy
Julie Yunker | Director of Sustainability, Government and Community Affairs, Hawaii Gas
Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter | Director, Government and Community Relations, Hawaiian Electric
Video Summary
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation established in 1982 with a mission to diversify Maui County’s economy, building pathways to innovation, jobs and opportunity for our residents. Through partnerships with the public and private sector, MEDB undertakes projects that assists growth industries with navigating and thriving in our county, educates and trains residents for new careers, and engages our community in forums that determine future economic directions.