Hawaii Energy Conference on KITV
Day 1 of the 2019 Hawaii Energy Conference featured on KITV with special attention given to the signing of the MOU between the Public Utilities Commissions (PUC) of Hawaii and California.
Landmark MOU by California and Hawaii Public Utilities Commissions kicks off 6th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference
The 6th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference presented by Maui Economic Development Board kicked off today on the Valley Isle. The two-day conference attracted energy industry leaders from Hawaii, the Mainland, Japan and Europe to exchange ideas on how to better serve customers in the Islands’ rapidly changing energy environment.
Among the highlights of today’s program was the announcement and signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) made by James “Jay” Griffin, Chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and Michael Picker, President of the California Public Utilities Commission. These Commissions will be collaborating in an effort to achieve each state’s clean energy and climate goals.
According to Griffin, “This MOU establishes a framework for Hawaii’s and California’s Commissions to share information and best practices with the mutual goals of decarbonization, the development and deployment of innovative technologies and planning in the energy and transportation sectors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote clean energy, improve reliability, and obtain cost benefits for ratepayers.”
In this collaborative effort, California and Hawaii have committed to:
- Addressing climate change and limiting global warming emissions to less than two degrees Celsius by the end of this century.
- Development and use of low and zero-carbon technologies in the energy and transportation industries to meet each state’s aggressive clean energy goals and achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible and no later than 2045.
- The promotion of carbon offset programs.
- Support for energy planning processes that recognize the ability of low-carbon resources to provide reliability and cost-effective benefits, while fostering new technology and innovation.
- Promotion of cost-effective conservation and demand response.
- Advancement of infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions in the energy and transportation sectors.
L to R: James “Jay” Griffin, Chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, and Michael Picker, President of the California Public Utilities Commission.
Picker announced, “I had a vision that our states could work together for a cleaner energy future by reducing the effect of climate change on our communities. Today, I’m honored to say, we signed a formal commitment for Hawaii and California to reach our renewable energy goals together.”
Today, Governor David Ige was also featured among a number of key decision makers from throughout the nation who exchanged ideas on responding to the challenges associated with replacing fossil fuels with diverse and renewable energy resources. Governor Ige joined the panel “Moving Away from Convention: Innovations in Regulatory Policy,” with Michael Picker, President, California Public Utilities Commission; Abigail Anthony, Commissioner, Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission; and Jennifer Potter, Commissioner of the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission.
The Hawaii Energy Conference continues tomorrow (March 28) at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. The program will feature invited Keynote speakers, panel sessions, case studies, exhibits, and ample time for networking. For information, visit www.hawaiienergyconference.com.
This annual conference is presented by Maui Economic Development Board, 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.
Countdown to the 6th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference – Governor Ige Joins the Conversation
Governor David Ige will speak at the 2019 Hawaii Energy Conference
Governor David Ige will be featured among a number of key decision makers from throughout the nation at the 6th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC). These leaders will exchange ideas on responding to the challenges associated with replacing fossil fuels with diverse and renewable energy resources. Governor Ige will join the panel Moving Away from Convention: Innovations in Regulatory Policy, with Michael Picker, President, California Public Utilities Commission; Abigail Anthony, Commissioner, Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission; and Jennifer Potter, Commissioner of the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission.
Some of the central questions this panel will explore include the following: What regulatory initiatives are Commissions undertaking to improve utility performance? What incentives have been approved for fuel cost and renewables procurement? What incentives will work to align the interests of the utility with public policy? If new incentives are crafted, can they avoid increasing the ultimate cost to rate payers? What instances make sense to transform the market through incentives?
Hawaii has experienced enormous growth in distributed energy resources, primarily photovoltaic systems. Thus, this year’s conference will take an in-depth look at the innovative policies and technologies that continue to allow rapid growth in PV, and will compare Hawaii solutions with those in Colorado, California and other states.
“If you are coming from a place where distributed solar PV is beginning to ramp up, there is a lot to learn from both what we did right and what we did wrong in Hawaii,” says Doug McLeod, Conference Program Committee Chair. “If you live here in the islands, this is an unparalleled opportunity to interact with the leaders in the energy community.”
Other panels at the conference will discuss topics such as the interplay between fossil and renewable energy; a comparison of paths to 100% renewable energy; and unleashing the power of clean energy in housing markets.
The HEC will be held at the Maui Arts Cultural Center March 27 & 28. Presented by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development.
This event consistently attracts energy industry leaders from Hawaii, the Mainland, Japan and Europe to exchange ideas on how to better serve the community in today’s rapidly changing energy environment. Highlights of the conference include thought-provoking keynote speakers, panel sessions, case studies, exhibits and ample time for networking.
Frank De Rego, Jr.
“The rapid development of new business models, regulatory processes and rules, alongside burgeoning technological improvements in energy production, delivery, and storage have wide-ranging implications for all energy stakeholders, especially those directly involved in building the energy sector of the future,” observed Frank De Rego Jr., Hawaii Energy Conference Program Committee Vice Chair and Director of Business Development Projects at MEDB. “The Hawaii Energy Conference provides a forum to discuss the future of energy with emphasis on a practical and iterative approach to innovation.”
The 2019 Hawaii Energy Conference is made possible by the following sponsors: Carbon Lighthouse, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Johnson Controls, Ulupono Initiative, Innergex, Hawaii Electric Companies, Hawaii Energy, PXiSE Energy Solutions, Powin Energy, Ameresco, Ampaire, Burns & McDonnell, DOE Western CHP Technical Assistance Partnership, Eaton, Gridworks, UH Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Neste, Ohm Energy Techologies, Opus One Solutions and Pika Energy.
Energy Thought Leaders Headed to Hawai’i
The bankruptcy of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in California is changing long held beliefs in the utility sector. Taking action on this and other challenges demand vision and leadership. The Hawaii Energy Conference, March 27 & 28 on Maui, will host energy leaders who are responding to these challenges and will explore how other states with ambitious renewable energy targets like Colorado, California, and Hawai’i are adapting.
Jeffrey Ackerman, Chairman of Colorado PUC
Those who attend the conference will hear from experienced leaders in energy with a wealth of experience and key positions in government and the private sector. These will include public utility commissioners from throughout the U.S. who are thought leaders on policy, including:
Jeffrey Ackerman, Chair, Colorado Public Utilities Commission, who led the commission’s efforts to “establish requirements for a coordinated electric planning process that is to be conducted on a comprehensive, transparent, statewide basis”, laying the groundwork for rules to include battery storage when supply-side resources are acquired.
Abigail Anthony, Commissioner, Rhode Island, Public Utilities Commission, who is designing and implementing energy solutions that help modernize the state’s grid infrastructure while achieving equity and fairness in the rate structure.
Abigail Anthony, Commissioner of Rhode Island PUC
Jay Griffin, Chair, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, who was recently elevated to that position after serving as a member of the commission. He now leads Hawaii’s efforts at achieving a 100% RPS by 2045 and the commission’s efforts in clean transportation as a “natural evolution to our clean energy and climate policies.”
Michael Picker, President, California Public Utilities Commission, who is leading California’s charge to implement a 60% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 2030 and the mandate that all the state’s electricity come from carbon-free resources by 2045.
Jennifer Potter, Commissioner, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, who is committed to Hawaii’s ambitious renewable energy goals, bringing to bear her wealth of experience as a senior scientific engineering associate at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and energy specialist at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.
Jennifer Potter, Commissioner, Hawaii PUC
“Anyone involved in thinking about or transforming the energy evolution should attend the Hawaii Energy Conference,” Commissioner Potter asserted. She added, “This includes policymakers, utility practitioners, academics, technology vendors, and third-party energy market players. Hawaii continues to be a leader in DER integration and is positioned to be a leader in utility scale renewable projects in the next five years. We are working on regulatory reform, DR markets, microgrid initiatives, integrated grid planning (T & D & BTM), resilience, and climate change initiatives (across local and state governments). The Hawaii Energy Conference is a place for innovation and collaboration.”
The Hawaii Energy Conference, presented by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, consistently attracts energy industry leaders from Hawaii, the Mainland, Japan and Europe to exchange ideas on how to better serve customers in today’s rapidly changing energy environment. Held at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, the conference program features invited Keynote speakers, panel sessions, case studies, exhibits and ample time for networking.
The 2019 Sponsors are: Carbon Lighthouse, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Johnson Controls, Ulupono Initiative, Innergex, Hawaii Electric Companies, Hawaii Energy, PXiSE Energy Solutions, Powin Energy, Ameresco, Burns & McDonnell, Eaton, Gridworks, UH Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Ohm Energy Techologies and Pika Energy.
For information on how to register and other details, visit: www.hawaiienergyconference.com.
Sunrun Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, will address the Hawaii Energy Conference
Edward Fenster, Sunrun Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, will address the Hawaii Energy Conference on March 27, 2019.
Asked to name his favorite thing by his preschool teacher Fenster replied without hesitation, “Electricity!” Therefore, it is not surprising that he now steers the largest dedicated residential solar, storage, and energy services company in the U.S., bringing affordable and sustainable solar generated electricity to thousands of homes across the nation.
Sunrun was the brainchild of Fenster and Co-Founder Lynn Jurich. Together they created a company known for innovation in a highly regulated and often uncertain environment.
Fenster brings to the Hawaii Energy Conference his years of experience in design and testing new energy systems, while developing consumer-focused financial structures. The theme for this year’s conference is “Innovation in Practice.” No one comes more qualified to explore this theme than Edward Fenster.
The Hawaii Energy Conference is presented by Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. in collaboration with the Maui County Office of Economic Development. The conference explores national and international trends in energy through the prism of Hawaii’s energy environment. Energy, Business, and Environmental professionals of all stripes from our global community will benefit from the conference’s in-depth conversations with energy industry leaders and the ample networking time provided.