All Things Energy: Pursuing New Opportunities for Electricity and Beyond
Hawaii’s transition to a clean energy economy is on its way. The focus of the 2017 Maui Energy Conference explored new and innovative pathways to a vibrant and clean energy future. Energy experts and stakeholders from across the U.S. tackled critical cross-sector issues and examined groundbreaking strategies: How can we make our energy systems more resilient and sustainable? What types of rate structures and incentives will be necessary? What synergies across energy sectors are possible? From electricity and gas to transportation and water delivery systems…all sectors will play a vital role in creating the new energy landscape.
Photos – Day 1, Wed, Mar 22 (1)Photos – Day 1, Wed, May 22 (2)Photos – Day 2, Thurs, May 23Video – Day 1, Wed, May 22Video – Day 2, Thurs May 23
PRESENTATIONS
WEDNESDAY |MARCH 22
KEYNOTE ADDRESS Introduction by Jonathan Koehn, Regional Sustainability Coordinator, City of BoulderThe 8 80 City: Creating Vibrant, Healthy, and Resilient Communities for All Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa, MBA, PhDhc, CSP Founder and Chair, 8 80 Cities Chair, World Urban Parks President, Gil Penalosa & Associates
Q & A DISCUSSION Frank De Rego Jr., Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board
RESILIENCE How do we define resilience and sustainability? What do these look like? What strategies will get us to an energy system that is resilient? The challenge of achieving decarbonized energy production and maintaining a reliable, safe, affordable, secure and resilient energy system is formidable.
Moderated by: Ben Sullivan, Energy and Sustainability Manager, County of Kauai
Delavane Diaz, Senior Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute Mark Glick, Energy Policy & Innovation Specialist, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute Scott Seu, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Hawaiian Electric Company Michelle Wyman, Executive Director, National Council for Science and Environment
A CONVERSATION WITH RANDY (OUR PUC CHAIRMAN) Facilitated by Dave Parsons, Chief of Policy and Research, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
Randall Iwase, Chairman, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
WATER ENERGY FOOD SECURITY NEXUS: Connecting the Dots We explore the nexus between agriculture production, use of water, and production of energy. With the closure of Hawaii’s last sugar plantation, what role will agriculture play in energy resilience? What are the possibilities for locally produced Biomass and Biofuels? What are the trade-offs in potential food security vs. energy security? In a global marketplace is food or energy security a myth?
Moderated by: Jonathan Koehn, Regional Sustainability Coordinator, City of Boulder
Paul Brewbaker, Principal and Economist, TZ Economics; and Lecturer, University of Hawaii Kyle Datta, General Partner, Ulupono Initiative Jeffrey Pearson, Deputy Director of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management, State of Hawaii Rick Volner, General Manager, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company
CASE STUDY: Energy Efficiency with Hawaii Energy Presented by: Brian Kealoha, Executive Director, Hawaii Energy/Leidos Engineering, LLCSmall businesses are the backbone of Hawai‘i’s economic vitality and resilience. Hawai‘i Energy is committed to helping them lower operating costs through energy efficiency. Through programs developed specifically for small businesses, Hawai‘i Energy has already helped over 400 Maui County small businesses become energy efficient. We will highlight a few of the success stories who aimed for 100% renewable energy but started first with energy efficiency before moving on to PV and energy storage.
EMERGING TRENDS IN HAWAII ENERGY POLICY – Are We Sending Mixed Messages? What market signals are policy makers sending to energy stakeholders? Is it possible to stabilize energy prices and electricity rates, reduce carbon emissions, and provide reliable, safe, affordable, and resilient energy all at the same time? What measures will policy makers implement to protect vulnerable populations?
Moderated by: Doug McLeod, Member, DKK Energy Services LLC
Alan Arakawa, Mayor, County of Maui Brian Kealoha, Executive Director, Hawaii Energy/Leidos Engineering, LLC Chris Lee, House Representative and Chair of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, State of Hawaii Alan Oshima, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawaiian Electric Company
CASE STUDY: Energy Storage with Holu Energy Presented by: Theodore (Ted) Peck, Chief Executive Officer, Holu EnergyTwo case studies of commercial on-grid microgrids operational in Hawaii with third party ownership, integrating PV and energy storage systems to create multiple value streams on both sides of the meter.
RESEARCH ON ENERGY SYSTEM RESILIENCE AT THE HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTE This panel of HNEI faculty will discuss current research projects on Maui and throughout the state that are addressing grid resiliency as Hawaii continues progress towards clean energy goals. The faculty members will discuss findings from recent HNEI-led demonstration projects, grid integration studies, and plans for future projects.
Moderated by: John Cole, Assistant Specialist, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii
James (Jay) Griffin, Senior Energy Analyst, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii Rick Rocheleau, Director, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii Leon Roose, Esq., Chief Technologist, GridSTART Research Team, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii
EMERGING TRENDS IN ENERGY POLICY: Nuclear Energy- Old Peril or New Promise What are the social, cultural, legal, and economic challenges of decarbonization using nuclear energy? Does nuclear energy have a role in Hawaii’s energy future? We will present a critical discussion to address community concerns and fears regarding nuclear energy.
Henry Curtis, Ililani Media Alex Gilbert, Co-founder, SparkLibrary
THURSDAY | MARCH 23
INVITED PRESENTATION Introduction by Jeanne Skog, President, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.The Resilience of Scientific Integrity during Uncertain Times Michelle Wyman Executive Director, National Council for Science and Environment
CREATING A RESILIENT ENERGY ECONOMY What opportunities exist to commercialize new innovative energy technology? How will this activity create jobs locally? Can innovative energy rate design and pricing help build a strong economy? How the use of incentives aid in this transition? Will expanding the electricity RPS to other areas such as other utilities or transportation (aviation, ground, and maritime) create a more resilient energy economy in the long run?
Moderated by: Luis Salaveria, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, State of Hawaii
Aki Marceau, Project Design & Partnerships, Energy Excelerator Kush Patel, Senior Managing Consultant, E3 Cheryl Roberto, Partner, Utility Transformation & Regulation, Twenty First Century Utilities
TECHNOLOGY: Is Storage the Key to Resilience We will discuss specific storage technologies and their contribution to resiliency. Are these systems ready for deployment and cost effective? Do they provide more than one function on the grid? Can customers provide support for their own electrical needs through storage, especially in a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) scenario?
Moderated by: Fred Redell, Energy Commissioner, Office of Economic Development, County of Maui
Lorraine Akiba, Commissioner, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Erica He, Advisor, Business Development Energy Solutions, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Michael Reiley, President, HNu Energy
CASE STUDY: World’s Largest Second Use Battery Storage Presented by: Boris Von Bormann, Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas, LLCDaimler AG, The Mobility House AG and GETEC have joined forces to develop a 13 MWh battery storage project in Germany using a total of 1000 battery systems from second-generation smart for two electric drive cars. This world’s largest 2nd use battery storage went into operation on the German primary balancing market at the end of 2016. The process will not only help to stabilize the grid as more electricity is fed in from fluctuating renewable energy sources, but can help to improve the environmental footprint of electric vehicles and make e-mobility more cost efficient.
TECHNOLOGY: Role of the Smart Grid How will the “smart grid” add to grid stability and resiliency? Will the “smart grid” increase exposure to security breaches and what mitigation measures are needed to reduce risk? How can we secure customer’s personal information, including energy usage patterns?
Moderated by: Don Reeves, Chief Technology Officer, Silver Spring Networks
Colton Ching, Senior Vice President, Planning & Technology, Hawaiian Electric Company Kazuyuki Takada, Director, Smart Community Department, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Makoto Watanabe, Executive Director, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Joshua Wong, President & CEO, Opus One Solutions
CASE STUDY: Savings for Consumers Derived from AMI & Smart Grid Connectivity Presented by: Don Reeves, Chief Technology Officer, Silver Spring NetworksSilver Spring Networks will share details on how its utility customers deliver savings to consumers via AMI and Smart Grid deployments. The case study will both summarize findings, as well as review the technology and process improvements required to deliver the savings.
TECHNOLOGY PANEL: Innovations in Transportation What steps can be taken to create and facilitate a resilient transportation sector? Are there unique issues for islands? What are the challenges and expectations in creating a resilient system? What are the costs/benefits of hydrogen, biomass and other alternatives?
Moderated by: Rick Rocheleau, Director, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii
Murray Clay, Managing Partner, Ulupono Initiative Bob King, President, Pacific Biodiesel Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa, Founder and Chair, 8 80 Cities; Chair, World Urban Parks; and President, Gil Penalosa & Associates Carol Sim, Director of Environmental Affairs, Alaska Airlines
CASE STUDY: Alaska Airlines – How We Track Sustainability Presented by: Carol Sim, Director of Environmental Affairs, Alaska Airlines
MOBILITY: Getting a Move On Air, ground, and marine transportation represents more than two thirds of the fossil fuel consumption in Hawaii. We will explore and discuss the opportunities and challenges in the transportation sector. What role can land use and urban planning play in reducing reliance on fossil fuels? What companies are leading in this area? What opportunities are there in the electrification of ground transportation?
Moderated by: Jeff Mikulina, Executive Director, Blue Planet Foundation
Michael Clay, Professor of Urban Planning, Brigham Young University Laura McDonald, President, Sunrise Strategies Group Michele McLean, Deputy Director, Department of Planning, County of Maui Joelle Simonpietri, Program Manager for Energy Research, Applied Research Laboratory, University of Hawaii
Lisa Briggs| Regional Director of Government Affairs, Sempra Renewables Colton Ching| Senior Vice President, Planning & Technology, Hawaiian Electric Frank De Rego Jr. | Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. James “Jay” Griffin| Senior Energy Analyst, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute Jonathan Koehn| Regional Sustainability Coordinator, City of Boulder Doug McLeod| Chair, Conference Program Committee Sebastian “Bash” Nola | Utility Consultant and former So. Cal. Edison Executive Dave Parsons | Chief of Policy and Research, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
The fourth Maui Energy Conference is just two weeks away and promises to be a showcase of energy innovation. Hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), this year’s conference is big, going by the numbers.
With the State of Hawaii recognized as a pioneer in the new energy economy and regulatory landscape, over 350delegates are expected to attend the 2017 Maui Energy Conference at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Utilities of all stripes, regulators, ISOs, consumer advocates, urban planners, transportation specialists, renewable energy providers, clean energy activists, state and local government officials and others will find value in Hawaii’s experience and the knowledge and experience of a variety of local, national and international experts.
“The conference provides ample time for networking to dive deeper into challenges, insights, new technologies, and unique perspectives emerging from the sessions,” said Frank De Rego Jr., Director of Business Development Projects at MEDB and member of the conference Program Committee.
50 Speakers will present, debate and discuss the broad theme, “All Things Energy” over two days. Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa of 8 80 Cities headlines the event with his talk on “Creating vibrant, healthy, and resilient communities for all.” We seem to be facing a “perfect storm” of threats and challenges, but in every challenge lies opportunity. How we plan, build and cultivate a healthy city life for people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds has never been more important than it is today. Drawing on his experience working with over 250 cities across 6 continents, Gil provides a holistic approach to tackling key urban challenges by focusing on both bold but doable actions any community can take to become stronger and more resilient in the face of change.
Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of the National Council for Science and Environment will kickstart the Conference on Day 2. The former Director of the US Department of Energy will present “The Resilience of Scientific Integrity during Uncertain Times,” exploring the intersects and alignments between energy, science and policy, and offer insights into pursuing those.
Joining a number of speakers from Hawaii, will be speakers from Colorado, Washington State, California as well as Japan.
There will be 10 panel sessions with a focus on resilience. The conference will investigate the strategies required to secure reliable, safe and affordable energy as an entire system. Resilience will be the thread that weaves together various dimensions of our discussion as we visit the place of nuclear energy as a “clean” energy source; the role of electrification in transportation; the importance of land use planning with its relation to energy production and consumption; the place of biofuels and biomass in our energy mix; technological innovations in energy storage and grid stability; the water, agriculture, and energy security nexus and much more.
“I think it represents our most ambitious Program yet,” said Jeanne Skog, President of Maui Economic Development Board. “The Program Committee did a remarkable job.”
5 Case Studies will inform the audience of new technology and other methods to meet sustainability goals. Case studies will be presented by Hawaii Energy (Energy Efficiency); Holu Energy (Energy Storage); Mercedes Benz (World’s Largest Second Use Battery Storage); Silver Spring Networks (Savings for Consumers derived from AMI & Smart Grid Connectivity); and Alaska Air will share how they track sustainability.
20 Exhibitors will be showcasing their energy products and innovations in Morgado Hall.
On Friday, March 24, there will be a Sustainability Workshop with a tour of the Maui Brewing Company and the Maui High Performance Computing Center.
TERAwatt Sponsor HNU Energy will unveil its new HIVE battery storage solution. GIGAwatt sponsors are Silver Spring Networks, Hitachi, Ulupono Initiative and Maui County.
The full list of sponsors is: Alaska Airlines, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric Companies, Hawaii Energy/Leidos, Hawaii Gas, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hitachi, HNU Energy, Holu Energy, HTDC, Itron, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Mercedes-Benz Energy, More Than Smart, Pacific Biodiesel, PVH Energy Storage, Sempra Renewables, Silver Spring Networks, Ulupono Initiative.
For details of program and registration please visit www.mauienergyconference.com
Gil Penalosa, Founder and Chair of 8 80 Cities, headlines the 2017 Maui Energy Conference with his keynote on The 8 80 City: Creating vibrant, healthy, and resilient communities for all.
The world urban population will double from 3.5 billion to 7.0 billion in the next 35 years. The cities we build today will be where billions of people will live for many hundreds of years. This represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to support the development of healthy, sustainable, and inclusive cities.
Amidst the challenges of population growth and shifting demographics, cities around the world are also grappling with climate change, rising obesity, traffic congestion, and a sluggish economy.
We seem to be facing a “perfect storm” of threats and challenges, but in every challenge lies opportunity. How we plan, build and cultivate a healthy city life for people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds has never been more important than it is today.
How can we improve the quality of life for people in cities regardless of age or social status? What is the role of sustainable mobility in promoting health, happiness, and stronger local economies? Gil answers these questions while also explaining a simple and effective principle for inclusive city building: ensuring the safety and joy of children and older adults (from 8 year olds to 80 year olds) are at the forefront of every decision we make in our cities.
Drawing on his experience working with over 250 cities across 6 continents, Gil provides a holistic approach to tackling key urban challenges by focusing on both bold but doable actions any community can take to become stronger and more resilient in the face of change.
Michelle Wyman, Executive Director, National Council for Science and Environment
The program is set with all speakers confirmed for the 2017 Maui Energy Conference, hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB).
The Conference Program Committee is pleased to welcome Michelle Wyman to the 2017 Maui Energy Conference. Michelle is the Executive Director at the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE), a non-profit organization based in Washington DC that seeks to strengthen the role and use of science in environmental policy and decision-making.
Michelle has worked on energy and environmental policy with states and local governments for over 15 years. In close consultation with regional and local governments and their constituencies, she developed strategic and tactical solutions to their energy planning, climate mitigation, and adaptation challenges.
She previously served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In that role, Michelle led the Department’s engagement activities with state, regional, and local governments on issues across the DOE complex, including renewable energy, science, fossil energy, and environmental clean-up.
Michelle’s extensive experience prior to joining the Department of Energy includes founding Applied Solutions- Local Governments Building a Clean Economy, and leading ICLEI USA, both of which are nonprofits engaging directly with cities, counties, and states on clean energy, environmental, and sustainability issues.
Michelle has served in a wide variety of leadership capacities including work with the World Bank, United Nations, and other multilateral institutions. As well as giving a presentation on Day 2, Michelle will be joining a panel to discuss Resilience. The panel will explore how we define resilience and sustainability and the strategies that will get us to an energy system that is resilient.
The 2017 Maui Energy Conference has an exciting blend of Speakers, Panels, Case Studies and Exhibits covering a broad range of topics that make up the new energy landscape. The core of the conference focuses on the idea of resilience with. Transportation, Mobility, the Water Energy Food Security Nexus and Emerging Trends in Hawaii Energy Policy promising to deliver interesting debates.
The 2017 Maui Energy Conference sponsors include signature sponsors, HiVE Energy Systems (Product Launch), Maui-based HNU Energy, Sunburst, and ecostruktures. Silver Spring Networks, Hitachi, Ulupono Initiative – a unique sustainability investment firm, and several other energy companies are also sponsoring the event.
The full list of sponsors is: Alaska Airlines, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric Companies, Hawaii Energy/Leidos, Hawaii Gas, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hitachi, HNU Energy, Holu Energy, HTDC, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Mercedes-Benz Energy, Pacific Biodiesel, PV Hardware, Sempra Renewables, Silver Spring Networks, Ulupono Initiative.
A broader focus has attracted new and captivating speakers to this year’s Maui Energy Conference, to be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, March 22-24. Hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) the conference theme covers topics from electricity and gas to transportation and water delivery systems.
Keynote speaker, Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa is passionate about cities for all people. He is the founder and Chair of the Board of 8 80 Cities, an internationally recognized non-profit organization based in Canada that was created on the philosophy that if you created a great city for an 8 year old and an 80 year old, you will create a successful city for all people.
Gil is also chair of World Urban Parks, as well as senior adviser to Children & Nature, Vision Zero Network, and America Walks. His leadership and advice has been sought out in more than 250 different cities across six continents. He advises decision makers and communities on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone regardless of age, gender and social, economic, or ethnic background.
“While urban design might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to the Maui Energy Conference,” says Conference Program Committee member, Jonathan Koehn, “Urban design dictates lifestyle, and lifestyle has a huge impact on people’s energy footprint. There are so many ways that the physical infrastructure around us influences our energy choices.”
Another draw for this year’s Conference will be Carol Sim, Environmental Affairs Director at Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines has been a leader in the airline industry in utilizing alternative jet fuel. It made history in November flying the world’s first commercial flight using a new sustainable alternative jet fuel made from forest residuals.
Carol Sim will join the panel on Innovations in Transportation, which takes a look at what steps can be taken to create and facilitate a resilient transportation sector.
A new feature for the program will include a number of Case Studies presented in special fifteen minute segments. Boris von Bormann of Mercedes-Benz will share their work with the world’s largest second use battery storage. In efforts to stabilize the grid, Daimler AG, The Mobility House AG and GETEC have joined forces to develop a 13 MWh battery storage project in Germany using a total of 1000 battery systems from second-generation Smart Fortwo electric drive cars.
Hawaii Energy’s case study will highlight a few of their success stories that showcase their commitment to helping small businesses of Hawaii lower operating costs through energy efficiency. Theodore Peck from Holu Energy will present two case studies of commercial on-grid microgrids operational in Hawaii with third party ownership, integrating PV and energy storage systems to create multiple value streams on both sides of the meter.
In a fourth case study presentation, Silver Spring Networks will share details on how its utility customers deliver savings to consumers via AMI and Smart Grid deployments.
The 2017 Maui Energy Conference is shaping up to be a timely and innovative forum as Hawaii transitions to a clean energy economy. Early Bird registration ends on January 31.
Gil Penalosa, Founder and Chair of 8 80 Cities, headlines the 2017 Maui Energy Conference with his keynote on The 8 80 City: Creating vibrant, healthy, and resilient communities for all.
