by HEC Team | Feb 17, 2017 | 2017, News
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.
Click here for the full program.
by HEC Team | Jan 26, 2017 | 2017, News
Guillermo Penalosa, Founder & Chair 8 80 Cities
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.
Click here for the full program.
by HEC Team | Dec 19, 2016 | 2017, News
The fourth annual Maui Energy Conference will be held March 22-24, 2017 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The event, hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), is Hawaii’s leading energy conference. For 2017 the conference theme is ‘All Things Energy: Pursuing Opportunities for Electricity and Beyond.’
From electricity and gas to transportation and water delivery system, all sectors play a vital role in creating the new energy landscape, so this year the Maui Energy Conference broadens its focus.
Hawaii has made substantial progress moving away from fossil fuel sources of electricity. This year we celebrate what has been achieved in the electricity sector but also consider how the lesson learned in that sector can be applied to other types of energy. “Energy experts and stakeholders from across the U.S. will examine groundbreaking strategies, and analyze how concepts like resilience apply beyond the traditional grid,” said Frank De Rego Jr., Director of Business Development Projects at MEDB and member of the conference Program Committee.
One of the new features this year will be a panel discussion on nuclear energy.
“Whatever your adjective is – ironic; surprising; misguided – the argument that nuclear energy is more friendly to the environment is being made across the US. We want our audience to be familiar with the arguments being made at the national level, then add a layer of Hawaii specific information related to our Constitutional provision,” said Program Committee Chair Doug McLeod.
The Session titled “Emerging Trends in Energy Policy: Nuclear Energy – Old Peril or New Promise” seeks to answer the questions: 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? Gavin Bade from Utility Dive will moderate the panel which will include Henry Curtis, Ililani Media Journalist, Life of the Land Executive and Director of Ka Lei Maile Ali`i Hawaiian Civic Club.
Another change for 2017 will be a discussion of the nexus between food and energy production, using islands as an example.
If an island can go without energy resupply for six months but there is only food for two weeks, can that really be considered “sustainable”? Come join us at a time when the last sugar plantation in Hawaii has just closed and we are working to identify replacements for the energy previously supplied to the grid by the sugar plantation.
The challenge of decarbonizing energy production while maintaining a reliable, safe, affordable, secure, and resilient energy system is formidable. Michael Jung of Silver Spring Networks and Delavane Diaz of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will help us define resilience and explain how it differs from sustainability.
Rick Rocheleau and Jay Griffin from the University of Hawaii’s Hawaii Natural Energy Institute will present an update on grid resiliency as Hawaii moves towards its ambitious 100% Renewable Portfolio Standards. Several international experts from companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Sumitomo will review case studies from Japan, Germany, and the U.S.
Rajit Gadh, Professor at Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and Founder & Director of UCLA Smart Grid Energy Research Center (SMERC) will be speaking on the panel discussing “Technology: The Role of the Smart Grid.”
The Program Committee includes energy experts from Maui, Oahu, Colorado, and California. Our new members for 2017 are Dave Parsons, Director of Policy and Research for the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, and Lisa Briggs, Manager at Sempra Energy in San Diego.
The exhibition segment of the conference provides networking opportunities to participants who want to generate business or collaborate to address common issues and concerns.
by HEC Team | Dec 7, 2016 | 2017, News
The program for the 2017 Maui Energy Conference is taking shape to explore a vibrant and clean energy future. Local, national, and international experts will tackle the following topics:
DAY 1
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.
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?
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?
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.
HNEI/GE Update on Renewable Energy Deployment
Hawaii Natural Energy Institute has engaged GE for over a year to address the effects on grid resiliency as Hawaii moves toward 100% renewable energy deployment. The presentation will update us on critical findings and mitigation measures that must be considered. What happens to system operability and reliability? What types of ancillary services will be required?
DAY 2
Creating a Resilient Energy Economy
What are the effects of shifting to a decentralized energy system? What are the impacts on jobs? What opportunities exist to incubate and commercialize new innovative energy entrepreneurs? Can innovative energy rate design and pricing help build a strong economy? How can tax policy and commercial incentives aid in this transition?
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?
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?
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?
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?
The program includes keynote speakers, a session featuring case studies as well as plenty of time for viewing the exhibits and networking.
by HEC Team | Oct 17, 2016 | 2017, News
Rising Sun Solar co-owner Brad Albert (right) explains the growing need for energy storage alongside Jamie Cook, Maui Electric Co.’s director of renewable energy projects, during a panel on rooftop solar Thursday at Kaunoa Senior Center. Read the full story on MauiNews.com.
by HEC Team | Apr 20, 2016 | 2016, News
The 2016 Maui Energy Conference is airing on Akaku, Channel 55, and online via Akaku Maui Community Television Vimeo Channel.
2016 Maui Energy Conference Videos
View Videos by Session:
Opening and Keynote Address by Governor Bill Ritter Jr. and Invited Presentation by Jon Wellinghoff
Session 1: Defining 100% Renewables
Session 2: Community Acceptance of 100% Renewables
Session 3: The Social Impacts of Pursuing a 100% Renewable Future
Session 4: Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Educating Toward 100% Renewable Energy
Session 5: Investing in Hawaii
Session 6: The Hawaii Renewable Experience: What Can Be Replicated Nationally and Internationally?
Session 7: Integration of Distributed Energy Resources
Session 8: Maui: A Case Study-Is This Where We’re All Headed?
Mid Conference Reflections from Utility Dive and the Program Committee
The Guernsey Report: An Analysis of Alternative Utility Models for Maui County
by HEC Team | Mar 24, 2016 | 2016, News
The Maui County Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board wrapped up another successful Maui Energy Conference on Friday, March 18, 2016. The Conference attracted 340 participants, speakers and sponsors from Hawaii, the Mainland U.S., Japan and Canada. Below is a list of articles published by the press.
Experts: Hawaii can lead changes in the country’s renewable energy landscape – Lahaina News
Getting to 100% renewables: How Hawaii plans to get fossil fuels off the grid – Utility Dive
Maui Energy Conference: ‘How Did We Get Here?’ – Hamakua Springs Country Farms
Who Should Have Been Present At the Maui Energy Conference? – Energy Dynamics
Maui Energy Conference focused on change – Ililani Media
NextEra absent from energy conference on Maui – Honolulu Star Advertiser
An ‘energy revolution’ – The Maui News
Maui Energy Conference Looks to a Renewable Future – Ililani Media
Where Are You, NextEra Energy? – Honolulu Civil Beat
Is Hawaii Hampering Efforts To Reach Renewable Energy Goal? – Honolulu Civil Beat
Kauai Utility CEO: Renewable Energy Goal Not Cheap Or Easy To Meet – Honolulu Civil Beat
The 2016 Maui Energy Conference – Energy Storage Publishing
Maui Energy Conference to Explore Battery Storage – Maui Now
Maui Energy Conference Will Tackle Major Issues – Ililani Media
Maui Energy Conference – Energy Excelerator
Maui Energy Conference – Pichtr
2016 Maui Energy Conference – AIA Maui
Registration Opens for Maui Energy Conference – Maui Now
Hawaii’s energy future to be discussed at 2016 Maui Energy Conference – Lahaina News
by HEC Team | Mar 19, 2016 | 2016, Past Conferences
100% Renewable Energy in Hawaii: It’s No Longer A Matter of When
The Maui County Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board wrapped up a successful Maui Energy Conference on Friday, March 18, 2016. The Conference attracted 340 participants, speakers and sponsors from Hawaii, the Mainland U.S., Japan and Canada.
Press Coverage of the 2016 Maui Energy Conference
PRESENTATIONS
Day 1 | Wednesday, March 16, 2016
KEYNOTE ADDRESS – POWERING FORWARD: WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AMERICA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY REVOLUTION
Introduction by Jonathan Koehn, Conference Program Committee Member
Governor Bill Ritter Jr., Founder and Director, Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE), Colorado State University; and former Governor of Colorado
INVITED PRESENTATION – AN IDSO: THE PATH TO MOVING FORWARD TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
Introduction by Jay Griffin, Conference Program Committee Member
Jon Wellinghoff, Energy Law Attorney, Stoel Rives LLP and former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
SESSION 1: DEFINING 100% RENEWABLES
Moderated by Kyle Datta, General Partner, Ulupono Initiative
David Bissell, CEO, Kauai Island Utility Coop
Greg Callman, Business Development & Market Entry, Tesla Energy
Shelee Kimura, Vice President, Corporate Planning & Business Development, Hawaiian Electric Company
Alicia Moy, President & CEO, Hawaii Gas
SESSION 2: COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF 100% RENEWABLES
Moderated by William Aila Jr, Deputy Director, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), and former Head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
James Gomes, Operations Manager, Ulupalakua Ranch
Richard Ha, Co-Founder, Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative
Emillia Noordhoek, Executive Director, Sustainable Molokai
SESSION 3: THE SOCIAL IMPACTS OF PURSUING A 100% RENEWABLE FUTURE
Moderated by Hermina Morita, Energy Dynamics, and former Chair of the Hawaii PUC
Jim Alberts, Senior Vice President Customer Service at Hawaiian Electric Company
Olin Lagon, Chief Executive Officer, Shifted Energy
Kristen Mayes, Senior Sustainability Scholar, Arizona State University
Craig Swift, Director, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION – THE GUERNSEY REPORT: AN ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE UTILITY MODELS FOR MAUI COUNTY
Jared Stigge, Vice President, C.H. Guernsey & Company
Special Presentation Discussion and Q&A
Facilitated by Dawn Lippert, Co-founder and Director, Energy Excelerator and Mark Wight, Managing Director Marketing & Strategy, GE Ventures
Day 2 | Thursday, March 17, 2016
SESSION 4: INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW: EDUCATING TOWARD 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
Moderated by Leslie Wilkins, Vice President, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.
Michael Chang, Chief Innovation Architect, Hawaii Energy
Brandon Hayashi, Strategic Alliances Manager, OpTerra Energy Services
Melanie Stephens, Education Coordinator, Sustainable Living Institute of Maui
SESSION 5: INVESTING IN HAWAII
Moderated by Luis Salaveria, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, State of Hawaii
Lorraine Akiba, Commissioner, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
Boris von Bormann, Chief Executive Officer, sonnen, Inc.
Murray Clay, Managing Partner, Ulupono Initiative
Josh Teigiser, Senior Project Developer for Renewables, Sempra U.S. Gas & Power
SESSION 6: THE HAWAII RENEWABLE EXPERIENCE – WHAT CAN BE REPLICATED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY?
Moderated by Gavin Bade, Associate Editor, Utility Dive
Mike Champley, Commissioner, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
Mark Glick, Hawaii State Energy Office Administrator, Dept of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, State of Hawaii
Colton Ching, Vice President Energy Delivery, Hawaiian Electric Company
SESSION 7: INTEGRATION OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
Moderated by Sebastian (Bash) Nola, Utility Consultant
Mark Duda, President, Hawaii PV Coalition
Brendan Kirby, Consultant, Consult Kirby
John Cole, Assistant Specialist, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii
MAUI: A CASE STUDY – IS THIS WHERE WE’RE ALL HEADED?
Moderated by Frank De Rego Jr., Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.
Making the Case:
Jamie Cook, Renewable Energy Projects Director, Maui Electric
Jonathan Koehn, Regional Sustainability Coordinator, City of Boulder
Marco Mangelsdorf, Co-founder, Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative
Maui Panel Responds:
Jennifer Chirico, Partner/President, Susty Pacific
Kelly King, Vice President, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, LLC
Doug McLeod, DKK Energy Services, LLC
Keynote Speaker at 2016 Maui Energy Conference Governor Bill Ritter Jr., Founder and Director, Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE), Colorado State University; and former Governor of Colorado
Invited presenter at Maui Energy Conference 2016 – Jon Wellinghoff, Energy Law Attorney, Stoel Rives LLP and former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
by HEC Team | Mar 1, 2016 | 2015, News
The 2015 Maui Energy Conference saw more than 300 energy industry leaders from Hawaii, the Mainland and Japan exchanging ideas on how to better serve customers in today’s rapidly changing power generation and delivery environment. We are pleased to share video highlights that capture the flavor of the Conference!
View Video
by HEC Team | Feb 17, 2016 | 2016, News
Join us at the 2016 Maui Energy Conference, March 16-18, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, for the hottest topic in renewable energy: battery storage. The current issue is figuring out how and where to use batteries in a way that makes economic sense. While many companies are vying to be among the very first to get their methods and products in actual use, we are pleased to announce that the two industry leaders, Tesla Energy from the U.S. and Sonnenbatterie from Germany, will speak at the conference. Boris von Bormann will be speaking for Sonnen and Greg Callman for Tesla Energy.
Learn about the cost of a battery storage system that could be offset by services provided to the grid. Hear also about community energy storage for customers who already have solar. “For me, it feels like we are on the verge of something big here,” said Conference Program Committee Chair Doug McLeod. “The equipment is no longer hypothetical. The manufacturers are ready to sell batteries that are designed to work with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The utility already has 15-20% of its customers with rooftop solar. The question is how it all comes together.”
The worldwide transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. With the U.S. as a key global leader in the use of battery storage, you will hear firsthand how the upward trends for renewables are affecting our Maui economy and about the importance of battery manufacturing and storage. The conference sessions emphasize skills and knowledge in areas that are needed to offer renewable sustainability to businesses and to public and non-profit organizations.
“We are at an unusual moment in time when it comes to solar plus storage economics,” offered Sebastian “Bash” Nola, Renewable Energy Consultant and member of the Conference Program Committee. “The price of these batteries has fallen over the past few years, as has the PV cost, but the price of oil has fallen even faster. Battery plus solar now can produce power at a cost that a few years ago would have saved money for the average utility customer in Hawaii. However, all of us in the business are now trying to find places to use batteries that make economic sense at today’s lower utility costs.”
Better battery storage is crucial. Sun and wind energy are free, but because they are not constant sources of power, renewable energy is considered variable, affected by location, weather and time of day. Utilities need to deliver reliable and steady energy by balancing supply and demand. At the site of solar PV or wind turbines, batteries can smooth out the variability of flow, store excess energy when demand is low and release it when demand is high. For households, batteries can store energy for use anytime and provide back-up power in case of blackouts.
For some larger users of electricity, a battery might be able to pay for itself by reducing demand charges. It can level off a spike in demand by providing some of the power that would have been drawn from the utility. Also, under the proposed Demand Response Tariff, the utility would pay battery owners for providing services to the grid. In effect, many small power producers working together could become a ‘virtual power plant’, replacing some of the capacity of traditional oil-fired power plants.
At the conference you will learn about the many kinds of batteries available today. Depending on the function the battery serves, learn about the many different requirements for storage capacity, charging and discharging performance, response time, maintenance, safety and cost.
“Here on Maui, Haleakala Solar, Inc. has partnered with Sonnen while Rising Sun Solar has signed up with Tesla Energy,” said Frank De Rego Jr., Director of Business Development Projects, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. and member of the Conference Program Committee. “We are grateful to Kyle Datta from Ulupono Initiative for putting together the panel with Tesla, which will consider how storage fits in the broader picture of getting to 100% renewables. We are also grateful that Sonnen has accepted our invitation to speak about doing business in Hawaii.”
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