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)