Maui County Conference Explores the Future of Energy

by HEC Team | Apr 11, 2014 | 2014, News

The eyes of the nation are on Hawai‘i as a living laboratory.

At the end of March, Maui hosted a conference–“Electric Utilities: The Future Is Not What It Used To Be.”

As Mayor Alan Arakawa said in his welcome address, electricity has become an important issue for Maui, as utility bills average $250, even though the island has an abundance of natural resources.

Together with the wind farms, solar has replaced a quarter of diesel-generated electricity, placing Maui Electric Company (MECO) at the forefront of an epochal, nationwide change.

The two-day conference at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center was the brainchild of Kihei’s Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and the Mayor’s Office.

Published in Maui Weekly (no longer available online)

Energy Conference Presentations Available

by HEC Team | Apr 10, 2014 | 2014, News

Bob Lachenmayer’s presentation, Redefining the Customer’s Role in the Utility of the Future

Presentations from the recent energy conference, “Electric Utilities: The Future Is Not What It Used To Be” held March 26 and 27, 2014, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center are now available online for viewing and downloading.

The conference, presented by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board, featured more than 250 recognized policy-makers from state and federal government and the private sector. They talked openly and frankly about the country’s rapidly changing energy landscape and its implications for power utilities, policy-makers and consumers.

Presentation topics included:

• The Shifting Landscape of the Utility Business Model: What are the Key Drivers of Change?
• Expectations of Tomorrow’s Utility Customers
• The Evolving Energy Mix in a 21st Century Utility
• The Regulation of Electric Utilities in Japan Post Fukushima: An Overview
• Redefining the Customer’s Role in the Utility of the Future
• What Role Will Technology Play in Transforming to a 21st Century Utility?
• How Will the Electric System Change in the Future?
• Hawaii’s Unique Place in the Emerging Energy Transformation

Presentations are available on the Proceedings page.

Electric Utilities Conference Wrap-up

by HEC Team | Apr 5, 2014 | 2014, News

Energy leaders agree Hawaii can lead changes in energy landscape. Maui conference participants impressed by open and frank discussions.

Conference presenters (l-r): Julia Hamm, President & CEO, Solar Electric Power Association; Alice Madden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and External Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy; and L Hunter Lovins, President, Natural Capitalism Solutions

The buzz that came from the Maui energy conference was that the three-day conference of leading energy experts, industry leaders and activists was Hawaii’s “postcard to the future.”

“This doesn’t end here. It’s a beginning, not an end,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa, who delivered opening remarks. “We’re excited to see where all the conversations that began at this conference go, and how participants will take away what they’ve learned or shared and lead us into a bright, sustainable energy future.”

“The conference exceeded my expectations,” said Maui Economic Development Board President and Chief Executive Officer Jeanne Skog. “It’s now very clear that we all need to work together to find ways to overcome the challenges and make the most of opportunities available as our nation makes a transition from power generation from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”

“We thank all of our outstanding speakers, our co-sponsors, exhibitors and everyone behind the scenes that helped make this a very successful event,” Skog said.

“Electric Utilities: The Future Is Not What It Used To Be” was held March 26 and 27, 2014, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Many of the conference participants spent the event’s third day on Friday touring the Kaheawa Wind Farm, hosted by First Wind; orienting themselves on the topic of “Energy Through Agriculture” at the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company field and factory; and learning about the Smart Grid Demonstration Project called JumpSMARTMaui, led by Hitachi Ltd. and NEDO.

The conference, presented by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board, featured more than 250 recognized policy-makers from state and federal government and the private sector. They talked openly and frankly about the country’s rapidly changing energy landscape and its implications for power utilities, policy-makers and consumers. At least half of the conference participants reside on Maui, and the other half traveled from the U.S. Mainland, Canada and Japan.

Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair Hermina Morita delivered closing remarks.

Program Committee member Jonathan Koehn said he was “incredibly impressed” by the recognition of the transformation taking place in utilities and a focus on opportunity and vision for the future. “It doesn’t matter where we’re starting from, it’s the evolution of the energy business model that is essential and we all can explore the opportunities together,” he said.

“These are the visionaries,” he said about the participating policy-makers, government leaders, legislators and top executives of the utilities and renewable energy companies. “To me it’s a great partnership and spectrum that came here,” said Koehn, the Regional Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Boulder, Colo.

Molokai businesswoman Barbara Haliniak, who serves as president of the Molokai Professional Women’s League, said she was initially skeptical about the conference and concerned that speakers and conversations would be of technical nature.

“I’m so glad it wasn’t so technical that I couldn’t understand,” she said. Her takeaway from the conference: “In order for the utilities and renewable energies to move forward, the entire community needs to engage in dialogue. That’s the only way you are going to get where you want to go. … You can’t be one-sided.”

Arlan Chun, senior vice president of development and construction for Pulama Lanai, said the conference was helpful for him and his organization’s goals in seeking sustainability for the people of Lanai. “I think it opens our eyes to some of the issues we’re going to be facing,” Chun said.

Steffes Corporation, a manufacturer in the oil industry, was one of about 20 exhibitors at the conference. Al Takle of Steffes Heating System said he found networking with the top leaders in energy policy and outlook to be most helpful at the conference. As far as the prospects of the future in energy, Takle said: “The rest of the world is watching the Hawaiian energy market as they navigate this transformational change.”

Conference Recap Video

by HEC Team | Apr 3, 2014 | 2014, News

Last week’s successful Electric Utilities of the Future Conference sparked a dialogue centered around the emergence of new utility models in Hawaii. Think Tech Hawaii’s Jay Fidel recently led a robust discussion recapping the Conference. Joining Jay in the conversation were Warren Bollmeier, President of the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Henry Curtis of Ililani Media; Ray Starling, Director of the Hawaii Energy Program at Leidos; and Doug McLeod, Maui County Energy Commissioner.

Transformational Energy Conference Held on Maui

by HEC Team | Mar 31, 2014 | 2014, News

Originally published on Ililani Media

A Hawaii Energy Conference like no other Hawaii Energy Conference took place over the past two days on Maui.

The power brokers of the incumbent electric utility were there in force.

Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) owns Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) which owns Maui Electric Company (MECO).

The head of all three were in attendance: HEI CEO Connie Lau, HECO President Richard Rosenblum and MECO President Sharon Suzuki.

The leadership of the Public Utilities Commission attended. This included all three PUC Commissioners, the Chief Policy Researcher and the Chief Counsel.

Key representatives from the Counties of Kauai, Maui and Hawai’i attended. These three Hawaii Counties are actively engaged in Energy Policy (Honolulu has seldom taken the issue seriously).

And more than attend, these three groups — the utilities, the regulators and the counties –addressed the audience and engaged in dialogue.

About 245 people attended the conference sponsored by the Maui County and the Maui Economic Development Board.

Attendees consisted of 75 women and 170 men. The breakout by region was 73 people from Maui, 104 from other areas of the State, 54 from the rest of the country, 3 from Canada and 11 from Japan; 53 from the public sector, 168 from the private sector and 24 from the non-profit sector. Most of those from the non-profit sector were representatives from energy trade groups and consultants.

The Event was held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The facility is open, airy and has expansive views of the mountains. The site is next to Maui Community College and adjacent to a large solar generation facility.

Read the full article on Ililani Media