HEC 2022 | Electrification: Where are we now? What does the future hold?
The 9th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference was virtual and revisited the challenges of electrifying the grid and transportation – current successes, potential pitfalls, and future opportunities. The discussion reviewed the issues surrounding electrification with the following thoughts in mind:
- How do we define “electrification” and is it the same everywhere?
- How are the community’s needs and concerns being addressed as the infrastructure for electrification become more prevalent?
- How is resilience being brought into the equation of electrification?
- What has been and will be the impact of COVID-19 on customers of the utility?
- What should the climate goals of electrification be – net zero carbon, net negative carbon, or zero emissions?
- What is the role of energy efficiency in electrification? …and more
View the conference program and presentations
2021 HEC | The Energy Transition in Hawaii: Focus on investments in people and projects
The 8th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference was held virtually 22 and 24 June exploring how to invest with knowledge and respect in Hawaii.
There are many ways to invest in the future of energy in Hawaii. It will take creativity and hard work from project developers; the community, including indigenous groups; regulators; and energy service providers to come up with projects that are acceptable for all concerned. Building trust and respect between stakeholders within the context of equitable community development will be a key metric of success. Any viable project will require substantial amounts of financial capital and an adequate return on investment. The skill development and job creation that results must take us towards a new energy economy. Every community faces similar challenges – how can we invest in people while designing energy projects that are financially viable, resilient, and enhance job skills?
View the conference program and presentations.
2020 Hawaii Energy Conference: Imagining a Just Recovery. What would that look like for the Grid?
On July 30th, 2020 the Hawaii Energy Conference went virtual for a robust discussion of how the energy sector can and should respond to our current challenges by creating a “just” electrical grid.
The Hawaii Energy Conference understands our energy systems do not exist in a vacuum. COVID-19 has laid bare the stark reality of pre-existing inequalities in our society. The elderly, the poor, and minorities have suffered tremendously in the pandemic’s wake. Peaceful, sometimes violent, forms of protest make it painfully evident that an equitable or just recovery is the only path forward to heal our communities.
Not everything is bad news. The planet experienced an unexpected respite from air pollution, and a slowdown in carbon loading to the atmosphere. But the lessened impact to our ecosystem came at an extraordinary economic cost. As we move forward, what strategies will policy makers and regulators use to achieve results that benefit broad swaths of society? How will utilities and companies in the energy sector contribute? View the conference program and presentations.
2019 Hawaii Energy Conference: Innovation in Practice
In its sixth year, the Energy Conference on Maui was renamed the Hawaii Energy Conference (HEC) to reflect what it has always been–the premier Energy Conference in Hawaii focused on statewide interests as seen through the prism of national and international developments in energy.
Hawaii has experienced enormous growth in distributed energy resources, primarily photovoltaic systems. This year’s conference took an in-depth look at the innovative policies and technologies that continue to allow rapid growth in PV, and compared Hawaii solutions with those in Colorado, California and other states. We also asked what the right blend of fossil fuel and renewable energy sources was for the portion of our economy not covered by the Renewable Portfolio Standard. View the conference program and presentations.
2018 Maui Energy Conference: Decarbonization: A Business Opportunity for Innovative Communities
The Maui Energy Conference returned to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center March 14-15, 2018 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI). Topics explored the theme of Decarbonization at a policy and regulatory level as well as business with a session on Convergence looking at how it all comes together for a shared solution that benefits all stakeholders. The Conference was preceded by a NEDO workshop. The Conference attracted 350 participants from U.S. and Japan. View the conference program and presentations.
2017 Maui Energy Conference: All Things Energy: Pursuing New Opportunities for Electricity and Beyond
The Maui County Office of Economic Development and the Maui Economic Development Board wrapped up a successful 2017 Maui Energy Conference on Friday, March 24 with record-breaking attendance. The Conference attracted 380 participants, 50 speakers and 26 sponsors &/or exhibitors from Hawaii, the Mainland U.S.,Japan, Germany and Spain. View the conference program and presentations.
2016 Maui Energy Conference: 100% Renewable Energy in Hawaii: It’s No Longer A Matter of When
The 2016 Maui Energy Conference concluded on March 18 after two days of dialogue about Maui (and Hawaii’s) journey to 100% renewables. The Conference attracted 340 participants, speakers and sponsors from Hawaii, the Mainland U.S., Japan and Canada. View the conference program and presentations.
2015 Maui Energy Conference: A Focus on the Customer
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. View the conference program and presentations.
2014 Electric Utilities: The Future Is Not What It Used to Be
“Electric Utilities: The Future Is Not What It Used To Be” was held March 26 and 27, 2014, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. 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. View the conference program and presentations.