Hawaii Energy
Facts & Figures

Hawaii Energy Overview
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Resources
Energy Systems & Planning
Energy Efficiency
Endnotes

May 2017

State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
Hawaii State Energy Office ∙ energy.hawaii.gov

Hawaii Energy Overview
Hawaii depends more on petroleum for its energy needs than any other state. Less than 1% of electricity in the
United States is generated using oil. By contrast, Hawaii relied on oil for 69.4% and on coal for 13.2% of its electricity
generation in 2015.1
Hawaii Electricity Production by Source (2015)

U.S. Electricity Production by Source (2015)

Hawaii’s electricity prices are more than double the U.S. average.

In Hawaii, both electricity and gasoline prices correlate closely with the price of petroleum. This graph shows theprices of crude oil, gasoline, and electricity.2

1 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Energy Overview
Electricity production and motor gasoline are just part of Hawaii’s fossil fuel usage. Large quantities of jet fuel arealso used in the state. In Hawaii, the air transportation sector accounts for the highest percentage of petroleum use,followed by ground transportation and electricity production, with the remainder used for marine transportation,commercial, industrial and residential uses.3 The figures below represent estimated 2015 petroleum use reported by
the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The shift in use from ground transportation to marinetransportation is primarily attributed to a modeling update for motor fuel by the EIA.

2016 total foreign crude oil imports(million barrels)429.0

2016 fuel for electricity production(million gallons)5379

2016 total foreign petroleum imports(million gallons)6

1,639

2016 impacted foreign fuel for airtransportation (i.e. jet fuel) (million gallons)7316

2016 Hawaii’s rank among 50 states forenergy prices81

2016 fuel for ground transportation(million gallons)9516

2 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Energy Overview
ELECTRIC UTILITES
The two primary electric utilities that service the power needs ofthe state are Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (HEI) and Kauai
Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC).
Hawaiian Electric Industries is the largest supplier of electricity inthe state and serves the majority of Hawaii’s population. Under
HEI are three electric utilities: Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
(HECO) serves Oahu; Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO)
serves Maui, Molokai, and Lanai; and Hawaii Electric Light
Company, Inc. (HELCO) serves Hawaii Island.
Unlike HEI (an investor owned utility), KIUC operates as acooperative and is not structured in the same manner. However,both utilities are committed to the adoption and integration of renewable sources of energy in the effort to reduce
the states dependency on oil and both are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) which maintains
oversight over both entities.

RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY USE, RATES, AND MONTHLY BILLSIn general the residential electricity use, rates, and bills have declined since 2011. (Source: State of Hawaii Data Book)RESIDENTIAL, AVERAGE MONTHLY USE (KWH)
Year

State Total

Oahu

Hawaii

Kauai

Lanai

Maui

Molokai

2011

584

609

520

473

435

612

373

2012

543

561

494

465

413

574

345

2013

514

523

473

464

430

557

329

2014

496

501

458

464

443

545

312

2015

497

504

454

474

424

541

306

2016

484

488

450

478

425

517

312

Source: State of Hawaii Data BookRESIDENTIAL, AVERAGE RATE ($/KWH)
Year

State Total

Oahu

Hawaii

Kauai

Lanai

Maui

Molokai

2011

$0.35

$0.32

$0.42

$0.43

$0.44

$0.36

$0.43

2012

$0.37

$0.35

$0.42

$0.45

$0.47

$0.39

$0.46

2013

$0.37

$0.35

$0.42

$0.44

$0.46

$0.38

$0.46

2014

$0.37

$0.35

$0.42

$0.43

$0.46

$0.38

$0.47

2015

$0.30

$0.28

$0.35

$0.34

$0.38

$0.31

$0.38

2016

$0.28

$0.26

$0.32

$0.34

$0.34

$0.29

$0.33

Source: State of Hawaii Data Book
3 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Energy Overview
RESIDENTIAL, AVERAGE MONTHLY BILL
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

State Total
$202
$203
$189
$185
$149
$135

Oahu
$195
$197
$181
$178
$141
$127

Hawaii
$218
$210
$199
$192
$157
$142

Kauai
$205
$209
$205
$199
$163
$163

Lanai
$192
$192
$199
$203
$159
$142

Maui
$219
$222
$211
$206
$168
$147

Molokai
$161
$159
$153
$147
$115
$102

Source: State of Hawaii Data Book

COMPETITIVE BIDDING
Hawaii’s electric utilities deliver electricity generated with their own units as well as power generated by
Independent Power Producers (IPPs). If new or replacement generation is required, HECO, MECO, and HELCO arerequired to follow the “Competitive Bidding Framework” for new generation with capacities greater than 5 MW
(Oahu) or 2.72 MW (MECO, HELCO), or receive a waiver of the competitive bidding requirements from the Hawaii
Public Utilities Commission (PUC). As noted on HECO’s Competitive Bidding for New Generation webpage, current
procurement activities include:
HECO: An RFP for 600-800 gigawatt-hours (or 200 MW) of as-available renewable electricity for use on Oahu is being
redrafted per a July 2013 Order from the PUC. The redrafted RFP will remove references to the Lanai Wind Projectand eliminate solicitations for an undersea transmission cable. Also in July 2013, the PUC opened a new docket (No.
2013-0169) to examine whether the Oahu-Maui Grid Tie may be in the public interest. This proceeding is still
awaiting determination by the PUC.
MECO: On May 5, 2016, Maui Electric Company asked the PUC for permission to begin the process of acquiring
approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of dispatchable, firm generation - about 20 MW from renewable resources and
20 MW from fuel-flexible resources - by 2022. The next steps in the process are for the PUC to rule on opening adocket leading to Maui Electric issuing a request for proposals under the PUC’s competitive bidding rules and for theselection of an independent observer to oversee the process.
On January 6, 2017, Maui Electric asked the PUC for permission to begin the process of acquiring new renewableenergy generation on the island of Maui that can be placed in service by the end of 2020, consistent with the NearTerm Resource Plan proposed in the Company’s Power Supply Improvement Plan. The next steps in the process arefor the PUC to rule on opening a docket leading to Maui Electric issuing a request for proposal under the PUC’scompetitive bidding framework and for the selection of an independent observer to oversee the process.

DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE PROGRAMS
On August 21, 2014, the PUC issued Order 32269, instituting a proceeding (Docket No. 2014-0192) to investigate
distributed energy resource policies as they relate to HECO, HELCO, MECO, and KIUC; this proceeding is also known
as the DER docket.
 March 31, 2015 – Order No. 32737. The PUC established the statement of issues and procedural schedule forPhase 1 of the DER docket. Issues for resolution included: revising interconnection rules to allow for new
distributed functions and capabilities such as grid-supportive services; transtitioning the current NEM program, if
necessary; and creating new market choices for non-exporting and ‘smart’ exporting systems.
 October 12, 2015 – Decision & Order No. 33258. The PUC closed the NEM program to new applicants andgrandfathered existing NEM customers and approved two interim programs, customer grid-supply (CGS) andcustomer self-supply (CSS). The PUC also required HECO to re-submit their Time-of-use proposal, develop a selfcertification process for approved advanced inverter functions, develop a test plan for priority advanced inverter
functions; and complete the circuit-level hosting capacity analysis for all islands.
4 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Energy Overview
 December 9, 2016 – Order No. 34206. The PUC established the statement of issues and procedural schedule forPhase 2 of the DER docket. The PUC envisions two parallel tracks, the technical track will focus on technical andinterconnection issues, and the market track will focus on market and economic issues. These tracks will address
issues that include: characterizing grid capacity for DER and renewable resources; safely integrating DER in a
cost-effective manner; revising interconnection standards and procedures; developing successor tariffs;
evaluating alternative rate designs; and expanding DER options and customer participation.

HECO PROGRAMS
As of 1/3/2017
NEM
HECO
Total Systems (executed)
Rated Capacity (MW)MECO
Total Systems (executed)
Rated Capacity (MW)HELCO
Total Systems (executed)
Rated Capacity (MW)

CGS

CSS

SIA

FIT

45,956299.20

908
5.80

5
<1

253
59.60

104
17.60

11,115
80.02

196
1.35

1
<1

28
12.00

32
4.00

10,924

262

-

39

16

69.61

1.61

-

9.78

2.51

Source: HECO Weekly Interconnection Queue Report

NET ENERGY METERING (NEM)
Previously, the NEM program was available to permanent customers who own (or lease from a third party) a solar,
wind turbine, biomass, or hydroelectric energy generating facility, that was located on their own property, and had acapacity of 100 kW or less. Under the NEM program: Customers receive a credit at retail rate for electricity exported to the grid.
 If a customer uses more electricity than is exported, the customer is charged for that net amount.
 If a customer exports more electricity than is used, the customer is considered a net electricity producer, ischarged a minimum bill (e.g. $17 for Oahu residential customers), and is allowed to carry any excess credits
forward to the next month.
 At the end of the customer’s 12-month billing cycle any excess credit are forfeited or used to reimburse anyenergy charges previously paid.

CUSTOMER GRID-SUPPLY (CGS)The CGS program can be seen as a modified version of the NEM program. Under the CGS program: Customers receive a PUC approved credit (see below) for energy exported to the grid.
ISLAND
Oahu
Maui
Molokai
Lanai
Hawaii Island
Source: Docket 2014-0192

CREDIT (¢/kWh)
15.07
17.16
24.07
27.88
15.14

 Customers are charged the retail rate for energy received from the grid and use credit received from exported

electricity to offset these charges.
 If a Customer’s credit exceed their energy charge, the customer is charged a minimum bill (e.g., a residential

customers are charged $25).
 Unlike the NEM program, any excess credit remaining at the end of the monthly billing cycle is forfeited.

5 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Energy Overview
When the PUC established this interim program, they established a cap for each of the HECO Companies’ service
territories: 25 MWac for HECO, 5 MWac for MECO, and 5 MWac for HELCO. These caps were established as the PUC
concluded that it was not in the public interest to allow unconstrained growth in the grid-supply option, particularly
if such growth comes at the expense of future opportunities to acquire even lower-cost renewable energy fromother sources, or prevents the HECO Companies from offering community-based renewable energy options for theircustomers. By September 2016, all three HECO Companies met their designated cap limits.
In April 2017, the HECO Companies collectively transferred over 20 MW of capacity from the NEM program to the
CGS program. This was in result of PUC Order No. 34458 which ordered the HECO Companies to transfer capacityfrom all NEM applications that have been cancelled or withdrawn since the closure of the NEM program (October2015) to the CGS program. The PUC also noted that any cancelled or withdrawn capacity after October 21, 2017
would not be transferred to the CGS program.
Fixed rates for electricity exported to the grid under the CGS program.

CUSTOMER SELF-SUPPLY (CSS)The CSS program is available to permanent customers who own (or lease from third party) a solar generating facility
that is located on their own property and has a capacity that is less than 100 kW. These systems may include anenergy storage device and are designed to not export electricity to the grid. CSS systems are also eligible for
expedited review and approval of applications in areas with high levels of PV. Under the CSS program: Customers are not compensated for electricity exported to the grid.
 Customers pay for the amount of electricity used from the grid.
 A residential customer is charged a minimum monthly bill of $25.

STANDARD INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT (SIA)
All permanent customers are eligible to interconnect a renewable or non-renewable energy generating facility
through the SIA program. These system are not compensated for any power exported to the grid, and in some cases
are restricted from exporting power. Lastly, unlike NEM, CGS, and CSS systems, there are no capacity restrictions for
SIA systems.

FEED-IN TARIFF (FIT)The FIT queue is now closed. Prior to this, renewable electricity suppliers with generators smaller than 5 MW were
eligible to participate in the HECO Companies’ FIT Program, supplying as-available power to the utility at constant,contracted rates over 20 years.
Hawaiian Electric Companies' Feed-in Tariff Rates
Concentrating Solar
Photovoltaics (PV)Power (CSP)
Tier
IslandRate (¢/
Rate (¢/
Size Limit
Size Limit
kWh)
kWh)
21.8*
26.9*
1
All
20 kW
20 kW
27.4**
33.1**Oahu
2

Maui &
Hawaii
Lanai &
MolokaiOahu

3

Maui &
Hawaii500 kW
18.9*
23.8**

250 kW

5 MW
2.72 MWIn-line Hydro

Rate (¢/
kWh)

Size Limit

Rate (¢/
kWh)

Size Limit

16.1

20 kW

21.3

20 kW

13.8

100 kW

18.9

100 kW

5 MW

12.0

5 MW

--

--

2.72 MW

--

--

--

--

500 kW
25.4*
27.5**

100 kW
19.7*
23.6**

On-Shore Wind

500 kW
100 kW

31.5*
33.5***with tax credit of 35% **with tax rebate of 24.5%
FIT aggregate limits: Oahu 60 MW; Hawaii Island 10 MW; Maui, Lanai, Molokai (combined) 10 MW
In December 2014, the PUC accepted HECO and the Independent Observer's joint plan to administer the FIT queues. Future revisions ormodifications to the FIT Program will be addressed in Docket No. 2014-0192 or 2014-0183.
6 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Energy Overview
COMMUNITY-BASED RENEWABLE ENERGY (CBRE)
Act 100, Sessions Laws of Hawaii 2015, was signed into law on June 8, 2015 and was passed to lay the foundation fora Hawaii CBRE Program that would make the benefits of renewable energy generation more accessible to a greaternumber of Hawaii residents. The long-term vision for the CBRE Program is to create a market-based structure thatenables greater customer choice, particularly for those currently unable to participate in onsite distributed
generation and allowing them to participate in off-site projects through a bill credit arrangement.
On February 10, 2017, the PUC issued Order No. 34388 (in Docket No. 2015-0389), providing their proposed CBRE
Program Model Tariff Language for comments and feedback due on March 1, 2017 from the Parties. Since then, PUC
called for a Technical Conference to be held early June 2017 to solicit feedback in addressing the issues raised bydocket Parties in response to Order No. 34388.

KIUC PROGRAMS
As of 1/1/2017
KIUC
Total Systems (executed)
Rated Capacity (MW)

NEM
171
0.72

NEM Pilot
150
3.24

Schedule Q
3414
17.64

Source: KIUC Annual NEM/Schedule Q Report

SCHEDULE Q MODIFIED
Currently only Schedule Q Modified is available to KIUC customers who own (or lease from a third party) a Qualifying
Facility as described in PUC’s Administrative Rules, Chapter 74 of Title 6, Subchapter 2; which requires the primaryenergy source of the facility to be biomass, waste, renewable resources, solar, wind, geothermal, or a combination
thereof, and more than seventy-five per cent of the total energy input shall be from these sources. Under KIUC’s
Schedule Q Modified Tariff:
 Customers have the choice (1) to not sell electricity to KIUC, or (2) to sell excess energy to KIUC.
 If a customer chooses to sell electricity to KIUC they are charged a monthly metering charge (i.e. single-phasecustomers - $24.75/month).
 The rate that KIUC pays participants for electricity changes monthly and reflects the amount KIUC would have
had to pay to generate the power if they didn’t buy it from the customer (“avoided cost”). As more renewables
come on line, the amount paid under Schedule Q is expected to drop.

7 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Renewable Energy
As defined by Section 269-91 Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), “renewable energy” means energy generated or
produced using the following sources: Wind; Sun;
 Falling water; Biogas, including landfill and sewage-based digester gas; Geothermal;
 Ocean water, currents, and waves, including ocean thermal energy conversion;
 Biomass, including biomass crops, agricultural and animal residues and wastes, and municipal solid waste andother solid waste; Biofuels; and Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources.

8 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Resource

2016 Generation(GWh)% of Renewable Energy% of Total Sales

826.8
121.8
656.7
89.4
260.1
38.5
472.8
2,466.0

33.5%
4.9%
26.6%
3.6%
10.5%
1.6%
19.2%
100.0%

8.9%
1.3%
7.1%
1.0%
2.8%
0.4%
5.1%
26.6%

Distributed PV
Utility-Scale PV
Wind
Hydro
Geothermal
Biofuels
Biomass
Total

Source: RPS Annual Reports (Docket No. 2007-0008)

RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS (RPS)As required by Section 269-92 HRS, each electric utility company that sells electricity for consumption in Hawaii shallestablish a renewable portfolio standard of: 30% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2020; 40% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2030;
 70% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2040; and 100% of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2045.
Where “renewable portfolio standard” means the percentage of electrical energy sales that is represented byrenewable electrical energy (Sec 269-91 HRS). Beginning January 1, 2015, renewable electrical energy generated by
the utility, independent power producers, and customer-sited, grid-connected sources are counted towards their
RPS. While electrical savings from energy efficiency and solar water heating are not.
Each electric utility is also required to file an annual RPS status report to the PUC (Docket No. 2007-2008). Instead offiling individual RPS’s for each company, the HECO Companies opt to consolidate their RPS’s.
9 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Renewable Energy

10 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Renewable Energy
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES KEY METRICS
The Hawaiian Electric Companies provide various key performance metrics on their website, two of these metrics are
System Renewable Energy and Total Renewable Energy.
System Renewable Energy (System RE)
The System Renewable Energy metric differs from the Renewable Portfolio Standard because it estimates thepercent of total net generation that is represented by renewable energy rather than being based on sales and does
not include customer-sited renewable generation. Net generation is the amount of electricity generated andtransmitted to the utility grid from the source (i.e., power plant). Generation from independent power producers(“IPPs”) and utility power plants is recorded at the net generation level. Sales are lower than the net generation due
to losses in transmitting the electricity from the source to the customers. Therefore, the System Renewable Energy
will result in values lower than the RPS since customer-sited renewable generation is not included and net
generation is used instead of sales. The charts below show the results for the Companies on a consolidated andindividual basis.

Total Renewable Energy (Total RE)
The Total RE metric differs from the RPS because it is based on total energy and not sales. The Total RE metric is thetotal renewable generation provided by independent power producers, the utility, and estimates for customer-sited,grid-connected renewable energy, divided by the total generation provided by independent power producers, theutility, and estimates for customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy.

11 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Bioenergy“Bioenergy” includes both electricity generation and fuel production from biomass.
Biomass is plant and animal matter, including energy crops, wood, grasses, algae, vegetable oils, and agricultural andmunicipal wastes. Bioenergy production potential in Hawaii depends on the availability of land and feedstock; CO2
sources (for algae); markets and values for primary products (electricity, fuels) and by-products (animal feed); andoverall revenues compared to costs.
“Biofuel” sometimes is used interchangeably with bioenergy, however biofuels is more commonly used specifically todescribe liquid bioenergy fuels. Biofuels are a renewable energy source that can be stored and transported in amanner similar to fossil fuels, can often be used in existing equipment and be blended with petroleum fuels. One tonof biomass replaces approximately one barrel of oil.
Since biodiesel fuel imports for electricity production began in 2010, the relative cost of the imported biodiesel fuelhas been significantly higher than for the fossil-based fuels used for electricity generation in Hawaii.

DBEDT 2012 BIOFUEL REPORTIn December 2012 and in accordance with Act 203, Session Laws of Hawaii, 2011, the Hawaii State Department of
Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) provided a final report to the state Legislature, Biofuels
Study. The following were taken from this report.
 Hawaii’s energy systems are highly dependent on liquid fuels. Petroleum is used for electricity production;

ground, air, and marine transportation; military activities; and other needs. Each year, Hawaii uses between 1.7
and 2.2 billion gallons of liquid petroleum fuels (fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, bunker fuels, and others). These
needs could be met by a combination of petroleum-based and renewable fuels (i.e. biofuels).
 The materials (feedstocks) that could be used for biofuel production include sugars (from plants such as
sugarcane or sweet sorghum); starch (such as from corn or cassava); fiber (from grasses, trees, husks, stalks,fibers from oilseeds, and from waste materials such as paper, sawdust, or other organic materials); and oil (suchas jatropha, kukui, microalgae, soybean, peanut, sunflower, oil palm, or waste cooking oil).
 A biofuels industry of between 100 and 300 million gallons per year beyond 2023, representing about 10% of
liquid fuel demand, appears to be both significant and achievable, given the right conditions, continued high orincreasing oil prices, and clear and consistent public policy. Construction, manufacturing, and agricultural sector
jobs would be supported. Although it is difficult to predict how a biofuel and related products industry mightdevelop in Hawaii, employment potential from an industry using 137,000 acres could create about 2000 jobs andgenerate revenues of $500 million to $1 billion.
12 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Bioenergy
Active Bioenergy Facilities
Technology

Project Name

Capacity

IslandLocation

BiofuelKauai Algae Farm

Demonstration

Kauai

Lihue

BiofuelHonolulu International Airport
Dispatchable Standby Generation Project

10 MW

Oahu

Honolulu

BiofuelPacific Biodiesel Honolulu Plant

1 MGY

Oahu

Honolulu

Biofuel

HECO Campbell Industrial Park Generating
Station

110 MW

Oahu

Kapolei

BiofuelPacific Biodiesel Biofuel Crop
Demonstration ProjectFeedstock
Demonstration

Maui

Central Valley

BiofuelCellana Algae Kona Demonstration Facility

Demonstration

Hawaii

Kailua-Kona

BiofuelBig Island Biodiesel

5 MGY

Hawaii

Keaau

BiofuelHawaii Pure Plant Oil

Demonstration

Hawaii

Keaau

Biomass

Green Energy Biomass-to-Energy Facility

6.7 MW

Kauai

Koloa

Biomass

HC&S Co-Generation Facility

16 MW

Maui

PuuneneWaste-to-Energy

Hawaii Air National Guard Waste-toEnergy Microgrid System Demonstration

Demonstration

Oahu

Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam

Waste-to-Energy

HPOWER

88 MW

Oahu

Kapolei (Campbell
Industrial Park)

Waste-to-Energy

PVT Bioconversion Feedstock Processing
Facility

Feedstock Production

Oahu

Nanakuli

Source: Hawaii State Energy Office, Renewable Energy Projects Directory

Geothermal
CURRENT PRODUCTION
Hawaii’s single geothermal power plant, Ormat’s Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) facility located on the Island of
Hawaii, produced 260.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2016, which is approximately 24.4% of the total electricity
distributed on Hawaii Island in 2016 or 2.8% of the State’s overall electricity needs in 2016 (Hawaiian ElectricCompanies’ 2016 Renewable Portfolio Standard Status Report). The PGV facility, which began operating in 1993 andwas expanded from 30 megawatts (MW) to 38 MW in 2011, produces both baseload and dispatched electricity forresidents of Hawaii Island.

Puna Geothermal Venture Power Plant,
Pahoa, Hawaii Island

13 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Geothermal
STATUS OF COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONIn May 2012, the Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) initiated a competitive bidding procedure (request for
proposals) seeking 50 MW of dispatchable geothermal firm capacity generation; however, in February 2016, HELCO
notified the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and all other parties that power purchase agreement
negotiations for this procurement had concluded unsuccessfully (PUC Docket No. 2012-0092).

RESOURCE PLANNING
Geothermal’s promise as a firm, cost-competitive
source of baseload renewable energy continues
to support ongoing efforts to better understandthe resource and its use potential. Geothermal
resources are difficult to characterize without
exploration and drilling since Hawaii’s hightemperature resources are usually more than amile beneath the surface. Studies indicate theIslands of Maui and Hawaii combined have aminimum potential geothermal capacity of 525
MW, with a more likely combined capacity of
1,535 MW (GeothermEx, Inc., 2005). Reachingthat level of production would requireinterconnection of the islands’ grids. Hawaiian
Electric’s PSIP Update Report: December 2016
(PUC Docket No. 2014-0183) forecasts 40 MW ofgeothermal development on Maui by the year
2040 and an additional 40 MW of geothermal on
Hawaii Island by the year 2030. Other Hawaiian
islands, such as Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai,
do not show as much potential for geothermal
development, but are still under consideration for
additional study and possible use.
Continued geothermal exploration will contributeto better understanding of Hawaii’s geothermal
resources. Ormat had expressed interest in
exploring on Maui, focusing on the southwest rift
zone of Haleakala, with partial funding from the
U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) (Ulupalakua
Geothermal Mining Lease and Geothermal
Resource Subzone Modification Application,2012). The University of Hawaii (UH) is also
exploring rift zones on Hawaii Island using a non-invasive technique called magnetotellurics (MT) designed to detectsubsurface electrical conductivity. Findings from this effort and other geothermal and groundwater resource
analyses can be found at the Hawaii Groundwater & Geothermal Resources Center (https://www.higp.hawaii.edu/
hggrc/). The Hawaii Play Fairway Project, managed by UH and supported by USDOE, will compile and integrate allgeothermal-relevant data across the state into a map showing the probability of encountering a resource in thesubsurface. In essence, this will provide the first statewide geothermal resource assessment conducted since the late1970s. Results from this effort will also indicate areas warranting additional geothermal resource exploration.
Recently completed surficial geophysical studies in the Saddle Road area of Hawaii Island indicate the potential
presence of geothermal and groundwater activity (Final Report: Magnetotelluric and AudioMagnetotelluric Surveys
on DHHL Lands Mauna Kea East Flank, 2016).
14 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Geothermal
PRICING
Geothermal electricity is generally cheaper than energy produced from petroleum fuels and other forms ofrenewable electricity in Hawaii. GeothermEx, Inc. estimates the levelized power cost of geothermal for a hypothetical
30 MW plant on Hawaii would be between 7¢ to 8.7¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), with operation and maintenancecosts between 4¢ to 6¢ per kWh and capital costs between $2,500 to $5,000 per installed kilowatt (Assessment ofEnergy Reserves and Costs of Geothermal Resources in Hawaii, GeothermEx, Inc., 2005). The prices at which the 38
MW capacity PGV sells power to HELCO are (per kWh): First 25 MW: 18.8¢ on-peak, 15.9¢ off-peak Next 5 MW: 11.8¢
 Last 8 MW: 9¢ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATONS
Concerns over the impacts to human health, the environment, and cultural practices continue to be voiced as thestate evaluates geothermal’s role in achieving its renewable energy goals. Advancements in technology, education,and resource understanding have helped alleviate some of these concerns. However, any new geothermal
developments in Hawaii would require careful consideration, environmental impact analysis, thoughtful planning,and considerable community engagement prior making a determination on the viability of a given project.

Hydropower
Hydroelectricity was the first renewable energy
technology used to generate electricity in Hawaii;
plants date back to 1888. Early hydroelectricfacilities were located in Honolulu and Hilo, andon the island of Kauai. During the sugar era,
additional hydroelectric plants were installed tohelp power sugar operations, and likely
contributed to a significant percentage of thearea’s total energy needs. The technology is fullycommercial and reliable but is limited by
Wailuku River Hydroelectric Power Plant, 11 MW, Hilo, Hawaii
fluctuating water levels in Hawaii’s streams andirrigation ditches. For example, the Puueo
Hydropower facility on Wailuku River on Hawaii
Island was originally built in 1910 and remains operational today. Due to Hawaii’s geology, run-of-the-river and runof-the-ditch systems, which have no dams, are currently being used. Smaller home-scale plants, smaller commercial
and municipal installations, and utility-scale hydropower facilities are currently in operation in Hawaii.

CURRENT PRODUCTION
Hawaii currently has about 37 megawatts (MW) of installed hydroelectricity
capacity statewide – the largest being the 11 MW Wailuku River plant on
Hawaii Island – and about 50 MW of hydroelectric projects proposed or underdevelopment (Hawaii Renewable Energy Projects Directory). In 2016,
hydropower accounted for just under 1% of the total energy distributed by
Hawaii’s electric utilities statewide (2016 Renewable Portfolio Standard Status
Reports). Hydro is an important part of the energy portfolio on Kauai, where it
represented about 7.8% of the electricity sold in 2016, and on the island of
Hawaii County Dept. of Water Supply’s
Hawaii, where it represented about 5% of the island’s total electrical sales in
45 kW in-line hydro plant in Kona,
2016. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) continues to investigate newhydroelectric projects including in-line river hydropower and pumped storage hydropower which, if successful, could
provide more than 20% of the island’s annual electricity requirements.
15 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hydropower
Another related technology is in-line hydro, which harvests energy within water pipelines. For instance, the Hawaii
County Department of Water Supply (DWS) has three small in-line hydro power plants which each have capacities ofunder 100 kilowatts (kW). These facilities capture the energy in pipes carrying water to DWS customers in West
Hawaii.

HAWAII HYDROPOWER ASSESSMENTS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) conducted a HydroelectricPower Assessment for the State of Hawaii in 2011, which is a feasibility
study that identifies, evaluates, and recommends solutions to address thepotential hydroelectric power needs in the State of Hawaii. USACOE
studied more than 160 hydro sites and ocean energy areas across Hawaii
as part of this assessment.

Pumped storage hydro is a related technology. A non-hydro source ofelectricity (e.g., wind, solar, conventional generation) is used to pumpwater from one reservoir to a second, higher reservoir. The water stored in Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) Salina
the upper reservoir can be released as needed, running through a turbine
Pumped-Storage Project, Oklahoma
on the way back down and generating power. KIUC is investigating thepossibility of financing and owning a 25 MW pumped storage hydro facility on Kauai using the Puu Lua Reservoir,
which was one of the four project sites of focus in the 2011 USACOE Hydropower Assessment. Other reservoirs on
Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu (Lake Wilson, Nuuanu) have also garnered attention for their pumped storage use
potential.
Hawaii hydropower projects have the potential for significant agricultural, cultural, ecological, and other impacts.
However, if done properly, hydropower can also support these resources and other activities that depend upon
Hawaii’s surface waters.

Ocean
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is rich in ocean renewable energy resources. Ocean or marine energy
includes both hydrokinetic and thermal resources. Hydrokinetic technologies tap the movement in the ocean—waves, currents and tides—to generate electricity. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) makes use of thetemperature differences between warm surface waters and cold, deep ocean waters. Hawaii has superior potential
for wave energy and OTEC, however, does not currently depend on wave or OTEC for any substantive energy
production. Ocean current and tidal resources are not as promising in Hawaii due to its relatively mild tidal shifts
compared to other parts of the world. Ocean energy technology continues to evolve as numerous ocean energy
research, development, and demonstration projects are taking place in Hawaii and elsewhere in the world.

WAVE POWER
The first ocean wave-generated electricity ever transmitted to the grid in the United States was generated by an
Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) PowerBuoy at Kaneohe Bay in 2010. In a cooperative program with the U.S. Navy,
three OPT buoys were deployed from 2004 to 2011 .

16 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

OceanCurrently, the U.S. Navy has partnered with the Hawaii
National Marine Renewable Energy Center (HINMREC) at the
University of Hawaii-Manoa, one of three federally-funded
centers for marine energy research and development in thenation, to establish a multiple-berth wave energy test site(WETS) at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu. The purpose of the WETS is tocollect and analyze wave buoy equipment performance (gridconnected), cost, and durability (which will help guideindustry design improvements), as well as monitor
environmental impacts from wave energy technologies (EMF,
sediment, ecology). The first new tenant, Northwest Energy
Innovations (NWEI), deployed its first Azura prototype wave
buoy at the WETS 30-meter-deep berth.
Lifesaver Wave Energy Device, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu

The Azura buoy is the fourth wave buoy attached to the 30 meter berth since 2004, however, it is significant as it is
the first grid-connected wave buoy in the U.S. to provide data for third-party (HINMREC) analysis. The Navy plans toremove the Azura buoy in 2016 after the trial demonstration period is over. Local Hawaii marine services companies,
Healy Tibbitts Builders and Sea Engineering, Inc., Hawaii Natural Energy Institute’s marine services partner,
performed the installation. NWEI, with $5 million in additional
funding from the Energy Department, will apply lessons learned
from this current phase of development to modify the device
design in order to improve its efficiency and reliability. NWEI plans
to then test the improved design with a full-scale device rated
between 500 kilowatts and one megawatt at WETS at even deeper
test berths of 60 meters to 80 meters over the next several years,
further supporting efforts to build a robust and competitive marinehydrokinetic (MHK) industry in the United States. In March 2016,
the U.S. Marine Corps and the Naval Facilities Engineering
Command, Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC
EXWC) announced the launch of a second wave buoy to beconnected to the WETS; Norwegian company Fred Olson, Ltd.’s
Lifesaver wave energy converter
OTEC Pilot Project, Keahole Point, Kona

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC)The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) at Keahole Point, Kona, is among the world’s premier
OTEC research centers. NELHA’s Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park (HOST) houses enterprises that test
renewable energy technologies on the cusp of commercialization. Major milestones in OTEC were achieved at NELHA
in the 1980s and ‘90s, including a 1-MW floating OTEC pilot plant, Mini-OTEC (the world’s first demonstration of net
power output from a closed-cycle plant) and other demonstrations in both open- and closed-cycle OTEC.
NELHA’s cold seawater supply pipes are the deepest large-diameter pipelines in the world’s oceans, extending to
2,000-foot depths; providing a temperature variance between 6°C (43°F) at lower depths to 24° – 28.5°C (75° – 83°F)
near the surface. The laboratory’s location, with access to both warm surface water and cold deep ocean water,
makes it a prime site for OTEC R&D. Presently, Makai Ocean Engineering is operating a heat exchanger test facility at
NELHA, testing components and materials. A 100 kilowatt (kW) OTEC generator has been added to the test facility
and became operational in August 2015. A 1 megawatt (MW) OTEC demonstration facility at NELHA is in the planningstages and power plants up to 100 MW in capacity have been proposed for locations off Oahu.
17 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

SolarDue to Hawaii’s high-electricity prices, abundant solar resource, and progressive energy policies, the state has
experienced unprecedented growth in solar generation. In recent years solar has become the primary renewableenergy resource in Hawaii. The majority of solar generation is provided by distirbuted PV systems. Largely
incentivized by tax credits and the utilities’ distributed energy resource programs (i.e. net energy metering),
distributed PV has grown significantly. Beyond distributed PV the state has pursued utility-scale PV projects, some ofthese projects include: In January 2017, HECO brought the EE Waianae Solar project into service. Developed by Eurus Energy America,the 27.6 MWac PV system is currently the State’s largest PV system. Eurus will sell power to HECO at about 14.5
cents per kWh.
 KIUC partnered with SolarCity to develop a 13 MWac PV system with a 13 MW / 52 MWh Tesla Powerpack
lithium-ion battery energy storage system. SolarCity will sell power to KIUC at 13.9 cents per KWh. Operations
are expected to begin in 2017.
 KIUC partnered with the AES Corporation to develop a 20 MWac PV system with a 20 MW / 100 MWh batteryenergy storage system. This system will sell power to KIUC at about 11 cents per kWh. Construction is expected
to start in October 2017 and the facility is expected to be operational by October 2018.
 The Navy is proposing to lease land to a developer for the development of a utility-scale PV and battery energy
storage system at the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands on Kauai. The PV system would generate up
to 44 MWdc.
Some of Hawaii’s active utility-scale PV systems
Project NameKRS1 Anahola Solar FarmPort Allen Solar Facility
Kapaa Solar Project
KRS2 Koloa KRS2 Solar Farm
MP2 Kaneshiro Solar Project
Wilcox Memorial Hospital Solar PV Farm
Waimea Research Center PV Facility
Hawaii American Water Solar Array
Kalaeloa Renewable Energy Park
Kalaeloa Solar Power II
Kapolei Sustainable Energy Park
Waihonu South Solar Project
Waihonu North Solar Project
Pearl City Peninsula PV
Dole Plantation Solar Array
EE Waianae Solar
Waianae PV-2 Solar Farm
Hawaii FIT Forty, LLC
Hawaii FIT Two
La Ola Solar Farm
Cyanotech Solar Array

Capacity
12 MW
6 MW
1 MW
12 MW
300 kW
500 kW
250 kW
250 kW
5 MW
5 MW
1 MW
1.5 MW
5 MW
1.23 MW500 kW
27.6 MW500 kW
570 kW
596.7 kW
1.2 MW
500 kW

Island
Kauai
Kauai
Kauai
Kauai
Kauai
Kauai
Kauai
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Lanai
Hawaii

Location
AnaholaEleele
Kapaa
Koloa
Lawai
Lihue
Waimea Research Center
Hawaii Kai
Kalaeloa
Kalaeloa
Kapolei
Mililani
Mililani
Pearl Harbor
Wahiawa
Waianae
Waianae
Waianae
Waianae
Lanai City
Kailua-Kona

Source: Hawaii State Energy Office, Renewable Energy Projects Directory

18 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

SolarNATIONAL RECOGNITION
In result of Hawaii’s aggressive integration of solar PV systems, our state has garnered national attention andrecognition.
In 2016:
 Hawaii ranked #1 in the nation for residential solar power per household (Union of Concerned Scientists, Clean
Energy Momentum, 2017)
 Honolulu ranked #1 in the nation for solar PV capacity installed per capita and #3 for total solar PV capacity
installed (Environment America Center, Shining Cities 2017, 2017)
Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) Awards
Since 2010, Hawaii’s electric utilities have been recognized by SEPA as one of the top ten utilities for annual PV
capacity installed per customer, annual solar capacity installed, and annual storage capacity installed per customer.
Annual Solar Capacity Installed Per Customer
Year

Rank

Company

Watts/Customer

2010

#3

HECO

33.2

#7

MECO

100.2

#10

HECO

82.9

#2

KIUC

282.1

#4

HECO

219.6

#6

MECO

198.3

#5

HECO

328.7

#7

HELCO

182.1

#8

MECO

177.6

#9

KIUC

166.5

#4

KIUC

503

#8

HECO

192

#9

MECO

191

#7

KIUC

591

#9

MECO

386

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Annual Solar Capacity Installed
Year

Rank

Company

MW

2012

#10

HECO

65.2

2013

#8

HECO

97.8

Annual Storage Capacity Installed Per Customer
Year

Rank

Company

Watts/Customer

2016

#7

MECO

17

19 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Wind
ONSHORE WINDWind energy is Hawaii’s second most utilized renewable energy resource (behind distributed solar), accounting forjust under 27% of Hawaii’s total renewable energy portfolio in 2016, which equates to about 7% of the total energy
sold and distributed by Hawaii’s electric utilities in 2016 (2016 Renewable Portfolio Standard Status Reports). This isnearly double the 3.4% of Hawaii’s overall energy needs provided by wind power in 2011.
Hawaii has one of the most robust and consistent wind regimes in the world, with capacity factors exceeding thosecommonly found elsewhere. In 2011, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated the capacity factorof the Pakini Nui Wind Farm on the Big Island at 65%, Kaheawa Wind Power I on Maui at 47%, and the Hawi
Renewables Wind Farm on the Big Island at 45%.

EXISTING UTILITY-SCALE WIND ENERGY PROJECTS
There are currently seven existing utility-scale wind energy
projects in Hawaii located on the islands of Oahu, Maui, andHawaii (none on Kauai). In addition, other large-scale utility windprojects have been proposed or are now under development,
including: the 25 MW Na Pua Makani Wind Farm in Kahuku,
Oahu, which could consist of up to 10 turbines and have an
estimated project footprint of 46 acres; and, the 3.3 MW LalamiloWind Farm, which could consist of up to 5 turbines covering 126
acres and would provide power to water wells owned by the
Hawaii County Department of Water Supply. There are also
numerous smaller, distributed wind turbines (up to 100 kW)
currently in operation throughout Hawaii.
Kaheawa Wind Power I, 30 MW, Maui

Hawi Renewable Development

Year Installed
2006

Kaheawa I Wind Farm

2006

Maui

Pakini Nui Wind Farm2007

Hawaii

Kahuku Wind Farm

2011

Oahu

Kawailoa Wind Farm

2012

Oahu

Kaheawa II Wind Farm

2012

Maui

Auwahi Wind

2012

Maui

Project Name

IslandDeveloper

Hawaii

Hawi Renewables
First Wind, SunEdison(now TerraForm Power)
Tawhiri Power, Apollo
Energy Corp.
First Wind, SunEdison(now TerraForm Power)
First Wind, SunEdison(now D.E. Shaw)First Wind, SunEdison(now TerraForm Power)
Sempra Generation

Capacity
(MW)
10.5

Site
Acres
250

Acres per
MW
23.8

30

200

6.7

20.5

67

3.3

30

578

19.3

69

650

9.4

21

143

6.8

21

68

3.2

Source: Hawaii State Energy Office, Renewable Energy Projects Directory

HAWAII WIND POTENTIAL
Hawaii’s strong wind regime and aggressive renewable energy goals are reflected by the amount of wind power
Hawaii’s electrical utilities plan to integrate into their respective grids by the year 2045. The Hawaiian ElectricCompanies’ Power Supply Improvement Plan (PSIP) Update Report: December 2016 plans for up to an additional 64
megawatts (MW) of onshore wind on Oahu by the year 2045, and up to 200 to 800 MW of offshore wind of Oahu by2045. The Hawaiian Electric Companies plan for between 42 MW to 150 MW of new onshore wind on Maui by 2045,
up to 5 MW of new wind on Molokai by 2020, and up to 102 MW of additional wind on Hawaii Island. The current
plan estimates this amount of wind, in combination of many other types of renewable energy, could be needed toget Hawaii to 100% renewable energy by the year 2045.
20 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Wind
This plan is subject to stakeholder review and approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and does notguarantee any of the proposed MW will be installed, but they do provide options for planning consideration.

CHALLENGES FACING WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN HAWAII
 Endangered avian (birds, bats) and plant species can complicate the siting, development, and operation of windprojects in Hawaii’s unique environments. Proactive measures, such as the development of area-wide habitat
conservation plans, could be helpful for species protection as well as easier project siting in the future. The
increased level of ecological monitoring required for new farms in Hawaii has helped to increase the amount of
information available on impacted species and habitats. Due to the limited knowledge of certain species, such as
the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, new and ongoing studies will be invaluable in determining the health and behavior ofthese species populations and the effectiveness of any available mitigation measures.
 Given the height of wind turbines and limited sites suitable for wind development in Hawaii, visual and cultural
impacts must be thoroughly identified and assessed early in the project siting phase. Developers must work
closely with local communities early in the process to identify important community resources and values, which
are core to the appropriateness of project siting.
 The intermittent nature of Hawaii’s wind resource can make integration into the electrical grid a challenge.
Mitigation measures, such as forecasting, controls, and improved communication technologies can help mitigate
some of these concerns.

OFFSHORE WIND
In response to an invitation from then governor Abercrombie, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
established the BOEM/Hawaii Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to promote planning andcoordination, and to facilitate effective and efficient review of requests for commercial and research seafloor leases
and right-of-way grants for power cables on the federal outer continental shelf (OCS), which begins three nautical
miles offshore Hawaii. Members of the Task Force, whose meetings and matters are open to the public, include
representatives of federal, state, and local government agencies.
Attention to offshore wind in Hawaii has increased following notice of multiple unsolicited applications received by
BOEM for seafloor lease applications for wind farms off-shore of Oahu; currently, still undergoing BOEM review.
Multiple public meetings were conducted in 2016, with community members and other stakeholders voicing
concerns, recommendations, and other opinions about the prospect of wind turbines off of Oahu’s South andNorthwest shores. In April 2017, BOEM notified its Hawaii Task Members it is still working to determine whether an
area offshore Oahu is suitable for commercial wind leasing.

21 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Renewable Energy Resources
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
The Renewable Energy Projects Directory is an interactive map of existing and proposed renewable energy projects
statewide, showcasing the variety of renewable energy resources that are moving the state closer to reaching energy
independence. The Directory also serves to inform all stakeholders of planned and existing renewable energy
projects of interest.
>> http://energy.ehawaii.gov/epd/public/energy-projects-map.html

PERMITTING
Permitting any large project in Hawaii, including a utility-scale renewable energy project, requires a thoroughunderstanding of local processes, issues, and stakeholders. The development of numerous large-scale renewableenergy projects over the last ten years has provided community members, regulators, and developers a more
informed opinion of future projects in terms of potential benefits and impacts. With some of the more desirable
locations now developed or otherwise not available, appropriate project siting and regulation will remain a challenge
moving forward.
Some strategies to support the siting and permitting of renewable energy projects in Hawaii: Know the requirements and processes - retain professionals with experience in Hawaii.
 Review past studies / permits (EIS) for the site - where available, lessons learned from earlier efforts can provide
a wealth of information.
 Meaningful community participation - engage public early in the project siting and design process.
 Identify the appropriate community contacts - seek out community members with knowledge of the area.
 Engage all stakeholders - identify and address all stakeholders and issues early in the process.
 Site projects appropriately - seek compatible areas to minimize environmental impacts.
 Be diligent - go slow in the beginning to go fast in the end.
 1 submittal / 1 review - present agencies with well-planned projects, complete applications.
 Electronic permit processing - saves time, reduces back and forth, transparency, tracking.
The tools described below provide information on these topics, as well as guidance to assist appropriate projectsiting and due diligence. These tools also seek to lower project “soft” costs by reducing the resources needed toundergo the permitting processes without removing any of the environmental or community safeguard processes inplace. Many local federal, state, and county agencies contributed to the development to these tools.

DEVELOPER & INVESTOR CENTER, SELF-HELP SUITE (HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE)
The Hawaii State Energy Office’s interactive Developer & Investor Center and Self-Help Suite provide comprehensive
information on the siting, permitting, and development of renewable energy facilities in Hawaii. The Energy Officeaims to regularly update these resources as requirements, policies, and procedures change. The Center focuses on
permitting assistance through its Project Permitting Assistance and Resources website, which also provides a permit
Guidebook and individual briefs on numerous county, state, and federal permit processes.
>> http://energy.hawaii.gov/developer-investor

In addition to these resources, the Center provides lists of environmental consultants familiar with planning andpermitting in Hawaii. While not exhaustive, this list identifies numerous firms with experience permitting and siting
renewable energy projects in Hawaii.
>> http://energy.hawaii.gov/developer-investor/project-permitting-assistance-and-resources

RENEWABLE ENERGY PERMITTING WIZARD (HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE)
The Permitting Wizard was developed to help those proposing renewable energy projects understand the county,
state, and federal permits that may be required for their individual projects. Software upgrades and content updates
to the Wizard were last completed by the Hawaii State Energy Office in 2015, however, the Energy Office is seeking
to update the Wizard content.
>> http://wizard.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/
22 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Renewable Energy Resources
RENEWABLE ENERGIS MAPPING TOOL (HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE, OFFICE OF PLANNING)
Renewable EnerGIS provides renewable energy resource and site information for specific Hawaii locations selectedby the user. EnerGIS helps users understand the renewable energy potential and permitting requirements for
specific selected sites. DBEDT is currently upgrading EnerGIS, and anticipates the release of the new version later in2017.
>> http://energy.hawaii.gov/resources/renewable-energis-map

HAWAII CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (U.S. DEPARTMENTOF ENERGY)
In September 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) published the Hawaii Clean Energy Final Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement which assesses common impacts and best management practices associated with
31 clean energy technologies.
>> http://energy.hawaii.gov/testbeds-initiatives/hawaii-clean-energy-peis/peis-overview

ELECTRONIC PERMITTING
Electronic permitting is another effective method of streamlining the permit review process without removing any ofthe environmental or community safeguards in place. Some examples of state and county agencies in Hawaii utilizing
electronic permitting include:

E-PERMITTING PORTAL (HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH/DOH)
The DOH Environmental Health Administration (EHA) e-Permitting Portal provides access to environmental permit
applications. e-Permitting allows for efficient and accurate electronic application compilation and submission,
tracking, processing, management, and fee payment.
>> https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/epermit/

ONLINE BUILDING PERMITS (CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU/CCH)
Oahu’s Department of Planning and Permitting website provides for the electronic submission and processing ofbuilding permits required for residential solar heating, photovoltaic, and electric vehicle charger installations in theCity and County of Honolulu. Building Permit status can also be monitored online.
>> https://tinyurl.com/mmdj5vf

ELECTRONIC PLAN REVIEW (EPLAN) AND BUILDING PERMIT STATUS (COUNTY OF KAUAI)
Kauai's Department of Public Works, Building Division, offers online tools to submit building permits electronically(Electronic Plan Review or "ePlan") and get information on Building Permit status, details, and other relevant
information.
>> http://www.kauai.gov/EPR

ONLINE PERMITTING (DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES)In late 2016, DLNR launched new electronic permit and asset management tools for DLNR’s Engineering Division andDivision of Forestry and Wildlife, Native Invertebrates Program. These resources are designed to support theelectronic submission, processing, and issuance of select DLNR permits.
>> https://inforps-dp.hawaii.gov/DLNRInvPermitting/#/login

23 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Energy Systems and Planning
Planning for a 100 percent clean energy future in the electricity sector involves studying and analyzing the needs andtechnological developments that will be necessary to fully complete the transition. Balancing electricity demand andavailable generation becomes increasingly challenging as intermittent renewable energy in the energy resource mix
grows. At higher levels of renewable energy penetration, solutions will need to be found to ensure reliability andresilience at a reasonable cost. Smart grids, interisland transmission, electric vehicles, demand response, energy
storage, and rapidly evolving technologies all represent possible contributions to tackling the challenges ahead thatshould be thoroughly examined and planned for on the path to independence from imported fossil fuels.
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) milestones10

12/31/2020

30%

12/31/2030

40%

12/31/2040

70%

12/31/2045

100%

Smart Grid
WHAT IS SMART GRID11
The electric “grid” is a network of transmission and distribution lines, substations, transformers and more that deliverelectricity from power plants to homes and businesses. It’s what electric lights and appliances are plugged into. A“smart grid” is one that has more automatic sensors, controls, energy storage, and intelligent systems to better
manage the complexity of constantly fluctuating demand and production of electricity efficiently and cost-effectively.
Some common “smart grid” components are:
 Smart (“Advanced”) Metering Infrastructure- Provide timely and detailed energy use information for customers- Allow for time variant rates
 DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems)- Monitor conditions in real time
- Improved forecasting of intermittent resources- Increased control and integration of Distributed Energy Resources Energy Storage (batteries, capacitors, flywheels, pumped hydro, hydrogen)- Supports increased renewable energy penetration- Stabilize the grid by conditioning power and smoothing fluctuations
 Demand Response (managing electricity use in response to available supply)
12
 U.S. Department of Energy gave $3.4 billion in grants for smart grid projects and grid upgrades in recent years

POTENTIAL MARKET IN HAWAII

Residential and commercial building energy management systems may become even more effective whenconnected to a utility-wide smart grid.
Over 500,000 housing units and condos,13 and tens of thousands of commercial and government buildings
statewide, can take advantage of smart grid technologies.

24 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Smart Grid
On March 31, 2016, the Hawaiian Electric Companies filed an application with the Public Utilities Commission (Docket
No. 2016-0087) requesting approval to commit funds and recover costs for a Smart Grid Foundation (SGF) Project.
The purpose of the SGF Project is to implement the initial Smart Grid capabilities that will serve as the platform tosupport not only immediate customer benefits, but also as the cornerstone for additional projects that can expand
customer options, such as optimizing the integration of distributed energy resources (“DER”), implementing demand
response (“DR”), time-of-use (“TOU”) rates and real-time-pricing (“RTP”), and increasing reliability throughdistribution automation (“DA”).14 The SGF project concluded with PUC order 34281, which dismissed the applicationand directed the HECO companies to submit a detailed, scenario-based grid modernization strategy for each utility.
As updated in PUC order 34436, a draft shall be submitted for stakeholder review and comment by June 30, 2017 andby August 29, 2017, a final grid modernization strategy, at which time a new docket will be initiated.

INTERISLAND TRANSMISSIONAs Hawaii considers a path for achieving a 100 percent renewable portfolio in the electricity sector connecting theislands through integrated, modern grids should continue to be considered as an option to utilize our best natural
resources at a scale that will reduce electricity costs and improve overall system efficiency. Communities need to be a
key part of this discussion as Hawaii balances economic, technical, environmental and cultural considerations.

A 200 MW HVDC cable bundle is no
more than 10 inches in diameter. The
bundle shown in the picture is fortransmission of 500 MW.

Hawaii’s islands are already connected by several telecommunications cables.

There have been at least 22 similar projects globally, including the following noteworthy ones:
 Trans Bay Cable (California), 53 miles: 660 MW installed in 2010.
 Cross Sound Cable (New York - Connecticut), 24 miles: 330 MW installed in 2002.
 Neptune (New York-New Jersey), 50 miles: 660 MW installed in 2007.
 NorNed (Netherlands – Norway) (longest HVDC submarine cable), 360 miles: 700 MW installed in 2008.
 SAPEI (Italy) (deepest HVDC submarine cable, at 5,380 feet), 261 miles: 1,000 MW installed in 2011.

In December 2016, the Hawaiian Electric Companies filed their updated power supply improvement plan (PSIP) with
the Public Utilities Commission (Docket No. 2014-0183). In their updated PSIP they contracted E3 to run a“copperplate” scenario, where resource and transmission potential were not accounted for to simulate unrestrainedinterconnection between islands. E3 found that “total costs savings across all islands is roughly $3 billion in 2016
dollars. This cost difference is an approximate upper bound value and more detailed scoping should be done toinvestigate both the engineering feasibility of building the cable and the engineering and siting feasibility of the large
grid-scale renewable resource build.”15
Longest undersea power cable
Highest capacity undersea HVDC system
Year of installation, first HVDC undersea power cable
Expected undersea transmission cable life
Deepest undersea power cable

360 miles
2,000 MW1954
30 - 50 years
5,380 feet
25 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017Electric Vehicles
An electric vehicle (EV) uses electricity in place of gasoline, reducing the need for petroleum-based fuel. Since EVs
can use electricity produced from renewable resources available in Hawaii (i.e. sun, wind, hydropower, ocean energy,
geothermal energy), the transition from gasoline fueled vehicles to EVs supports Hawaii’s energy independence
goals.
Based on statewide averages, the amount of fossil fuel used to power an electric vehicle in Hawaii is 34%-40% lessthan the fossil fuel required to power a similar gasoline-fueled vehicle.16 This is expected to improve as renewableenergy increases in Hawaii.
Registered EVs17 and Public Charging Stations18 in Hawaii
CountyElectric
VehiclesLevel 219
Charging Station
Ports

Level 320
Charging Station
Ports

Total Ports

4,273
800
250
179
5,502

307
78
47
37
469

11
43
5
1
60

318
121
52
38
529

Oahu
Maui
Hawaii
Kauai
Total statewide

Fuel Cost Comparison
VehicleFuel Type2016
Nissan Versa
Gasoline

2016
Honda Civic
Gasoline

2016
Nissan LEAF21
Electricity

Miles Per Gallon(MPG)

34 mpg combined
367 miles total range

35 mpg combined
4634miles total range

112 combined MPG
107 miles total range

Fuel Costs$3.07/gallon$3.07/gallon

Fuel Cost per
Year24$854.63$830.21

Residential Electricity Rate: EV Time of Use$0.278/kWh 22
Electricity Rate:$ 0.188/kWh23$739.12$498.44

Fuel cost comparisons show approximate savings between internal combustion engine and electric vehicles. The
example above shows that fuel costs are lower for the Nissan LEAF than for a comparable gasoline fueled vehicle.
Hawaii EV Dealers and Showrooms by County
County Nissan- GM/
LEAF
Chevy
Volt

Toyotaplug-inPrius &
Prius
Prime

Ford
BMW
Focus, i3 & i8
C-MAX,
FusionEnergi

Cadillac
ELR

Audi
PorscheTesla
Kia
Panamera S Showroom Soul EV A3 E-TronE-hybrid

Smart
Car
EV Smart

Oahu

3

3

3

4

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

Maui

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

-

-

Hawaii

1

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

-

-

Kauai

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

-

-

26 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017Electric Vehicles
HAWAII’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE LAWS AND INCENTIVES· Free parking is provided in state and county government lots, facilities, and at parking meters.
· Vehicles with EV license plates are exempt from High Occupancy Vehicle lane restrictions.
· Parking lots with at least 100 public parking spaces are required to have at least one parking space, equipped withan EV charging system, reserved exclusively for EVs.
· Non-EVs parked in a space designated and marked as reserved for EVs shall be fined not less than $50 nor morethan $100.
· Hawaiian Electric Co. offer EV Time of Use Rates designed to incentivize customers, through lower rates, to charge
their EVs during off-peak times of day.
· Multi-family residential dwellings or townhomes cannot prohibit the placement or use of EV charging systems
altogether.
For more information about state and federal laws and incentives, visit energy.hawaii.gov/testbeds-initiatives/evready-program/laws-incentives.

EV QUICK FACTS
The first car to arrive in Hawaii was Electric.25

Year 1899

Amount of energy a fully charged Nissan LEAF has potential totap.
Best temperature range to operate lithium ion batteries (mostcommon EV batteries today).

24 kWhHawaii ranks second in the nation behind California in the numberof EVs registered per thousand people.26

2.94 out of every 1,000 registered light cars andtrucks in Hawaii are EV

Cost for a government or commercial property owner to install a
Level 2 charging station:

Approximately $4,000-$8,000 per station.
A relatively simple project in Hawaii can range from$4,000 to $25,000 to $100,000;
however, prices vary considerably.27

68°- 95°
Fahrenheit

EV STATIONS HAWAIIThe Hawaii State Energy Office developed a mobile app designed to help drivers locate
publicly available EV charging stations statewide. EV Stations Hawaii helps drivers pinpoint
charging stations as well as provide detailed information of the station giving them theconfidence that they can recharge while on the road. The free app is available for Apple
and Android smartphones and mobile devices.
energy.hawaii.gov/testbeds-initiatives/ev-ready-program/ev-stations-hawaii-mobile-app

EVs ON THE MOVE
EVs have a greater initial purchase price28 than comparable gasoline-fueled vehicles. Most experts, including Hawaii’s
auto dealers, believe that widespread acceptance of EVs will grow as a full battery charge provides greater driving
range and the cost of EVs more closely matches the cost of conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

27 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Energy Efficiency
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDSPer legislative changes taking effect on January 1, 2015, renewable portfolio standards (RPS) reporting no longer
includes energy efficiency portfolio standards (EEPS). Under HRS 269-96, relating to EEPS, the PUC is responsible forestablishing standards that will maximize cost-effective energy-efficiency programs and technologies. EEPS levels from2008-2014 appear below; the original goal for EEPS was a reduction of electricity consumption by 4,300 gigawatt-hours
by 2030. HSEO held a Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Energy Efficiency Charrette for stakeholders on May 8 and 9, 2017,
to discuss the status of EEPS and the Public Benefits Fee and the Public Benefits Fee Administrator.

Hawaii Energy (HE) continues to be a major contributor to the state’s EEPS goals. Hawaii
Energy encourages and rewards smart energy decisions which will allow our state to reach
100 percent clean energy faster and cheaper through energy efficiency and conservation. As
the Public Benefit Fee Administrator, HE serves all of the islands except for Kauai. From July
1, 2016 through March 31, 2017, the program invested over $22 million to deliver more than
1.2 billion kWh in estimated lifetime customer-level energy savings at a rough cost of twocents per kWh. This is the equivalent to building a 64 MW solar farm, enough to power
195,000 homes for a year. In addition, this reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly
1 million tons.

Energy Performance Contracting
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) finances energy and water efficiency improvements with the future savings
from the energy and water conservation measures installed. Under an EPC, the energy service company contracted forthe conservation measures will guarantee the savings or pay for the shortfall. EPC lets government agencies maximize
their energy investments because they can include deferred maintenance and performance period maintenanceservices under a single contract with guaranteed savings measures. The economic impacts of performance contracting
are significant, providing great value to the state.
Performance contracting allows agencies to install energy efficiency retrofits in a timely manner. Retrofits can take lessthan one year to up to three years to install. Therefore, energy savings occur sooner than later. Capital improvement
projects can take from six to 10 years, resulting in missed opportunities for annual energy savings. State and county
agencies face increasing energy costs and the need to upgrade aging, inefficient, and obsolete energy- and waterconsuming equipment. Capital improvement and operating budgets have been unable to keep up with the needed
upgrades for energy and water efficiency.
28| DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Energy Performance Contracting
RACE TO THE TOP AWARD
For five consecutive years, Hawaii has garnered further national recognition with the Race to the Top award from theEnergy Services Coalition* (ESC). The award is given to the national leader with the highest per capital investment in
performance contracting projects. With the Department of Transportation, Airports Division, performance contract fornearly $209.8 million, ESC recognizes Hawaii with the distinction of signing the single largest performance contract by astate agency. Since 2012 through 2016 the ESC awarded Hawaii the Race to the Top for its per capita investment. In
2016 ESC also recognized the State of Hawaii as an Energy Stewardship Champion for outstanding accomplishments
leveraging performance contracting to achieve infrastructure modernization, environmental stewardship, andeconomic development. “The State of Hawaii has shown great leadership not only in this contract, but also in theiroverall program that promotes the use of guaranteed energy savings performance contracting in public facilities. They
are a great example for other states to follow,” said Jim Arwood, Executive Director, ESC.
Energy Services Coalition Ranking
State

Population

Performance Contracting

Dollars per Capita

1. Hawaii

1,360,301$504,312,409$370.74

2. Kentucky

4,339,367$750,000,000$172.84

3. Delaware

897,934$138,707,463$154.47

4. Massachusetts
5. Ohio

6,547,629
11,536,504$865,349,091$1,252,683,627$132.16$108.58

Since HSEO started the performance contracting program in 1996, state and local government agencies have signed atotal of over $504 million in performance contracts that are estimated to save in excess of $1.1 billion over the life of
the contracts. These savings are the equivalent of powering 401,997 homes for one year. The projects comprise over
112 million square feet in 295 existing buildings or facilities.
*

ESC is a national nonprofit organization of experts working together to increase energy efficiency and building upgrades throughenergy performance contracting.

29| DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Energy Performance Contracting
BUILDING BETTER BUILDINGSOn September 10, 2013, HSEO became a partner in the DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative, a national leadership initiative
calling on state and local officials to “make substantial commitments to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings
and plants, save money, and increase competitiveness.” HSEO joined the Better Buildings Performance Contracting
Accelerator “to significantly expand the use of performance contracting by state and local governments … to catalyze
public sector energy efficiency investments of $2 billion from January 2013 to December 2016…” The partnershipcommitted the state to executing $300 million in performance contracting within the three-year period. The State of
Hawaii exceeded its commitment to the US Department of Energy (USDOE) and signed nearly $335.5 million in
performance contracts for energy efficiency improvements for state and county facilities. This national achievement isrecognized by the USDOE as the state that met the highest goal. Hawaii’s outstanding milestone not only exceeded
Hawaii’s goal but also put the USDOE’s Performance Contracting Accelerator Program over the top to reach and exceed
their $2 billion national goal.

Hawaii’s landmark $335.5 million total is the result of contracts signed by the City and County of Honolulu for the
Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant, the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and the State Departmentof Transportation for all three divisions for Highways, Harbors, and Airports. The projects impact over 24.4 million
square feet of building space and include installation of over 136,000 lighting retrofits, 13 megawatts of photovoltaic
power, and other energy efficiency improvements. Savings from these projects are expected to save over $865.9
million over the life of the contracts. The energy savings from these contracts are equivalent to powering 20,464
homes in one year and over the life of the contracts power 389,381 homes.
Hawaii’s progress in energy performance contracting prompted a letter of congratulations to Gov. David Ige from the
USDOE in October 2016. The letter recognized the success of Hawaii’s programs for “driving greater energy efficiency”
and thanked the governor for his leadership.
“Congratulations to our state partners on their impressive investment in energy efficiency,” said Kathleen Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at the US Department of Energy. “By accelerating the use of Energy
Service Performance contracting, Hawaii has led by example and demonstrated how to save money for taxpayers andcreate well-paid jobs, through energy efficiency.”
The greatest contributor to Hawaii’s meeting and exceeding its $300 million goal was the State Department ofTransportation, which under a Request for Proposals, executed a total of $296.3 million in contracts. The Harbors
Division executed a contract in excess of $26.2 million, the Highways Division for about $60.3 million, and Airports
Division for 12 airports for nearly $209.8 million. The work will be done by Johnson Controls as the energy service
company. For the Airports Division alone installations will include air conditioning upgrades, over 98,000 light fixtures,and over 24,400 photovoltaic panels for a total of 7.9 megawatts of power generation.
DBEDT estimates that over the life of the Department of Transportation Airport’s contract, which ends in 2034, theeconomic impacts will be as follows: $27.3 million in tax revenues (in 2016 dollars),
 $186.6 million in income to households (in 2016 dollars), and 867 jobs generated or supported each year during the first two years of construction in Phase I with 257 jobs
supported each year during Phase II construction and installation and an average of 63 jobs generated or
supported each year during the performance period.*
The energy savings is equivalent to powering 9,264 homes a year. Over the life of the project the energy saved could
power more than 175,267 homes.
*

Source: DBEDT Research & Economic Analysis Division

30 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
STATE AND COUNTY ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
The chart below illustrates the number of EPC projects conducted by state and county agencies from 1996 through2017. In addition, over $8 million in rebate incentives have been claimed from Hawaii Energy, reducing the cost of theenergy efficiency improvements through performance contracting projects. Looking ahead, the state anticipates more
EPC investments.
AgencyYear(s)Contract Amount ($)

U.H. HiloCounty of Hawaii
County of Kauai
C&C of Honolulu

1996-2012
1997-2026
1998-2012
2001-2025$6,402,695$2,215,546$525,965$11,900,205

Estimated Savings Over Lifeof Contract ($)$14,630,066$8,157,880$1,205,990$36,066,761

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation

2002-2022$21,936,997$55,766,364

JudiciaryDept. of Accounting & General
Services Phase I
Department of Public Safety

2003-20122009-2029$1,474,406$36,873,266$9,785,036$72,580,767

2010-2030$25,511,264$57,211,112

University of Hawaii Community
Colleges
C&C Honolulu Kailua Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Dept. of Accounting and General
Services Phase II
Department of Transportation

2012-2032$34,207,392$37,000,000

2013-2033$6,054,178$13,693,910

2013-2033$17,400,000$28,000,000

2013-2034$306,685,097$795,560,746

Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Total

2016-2036$33,125,398$504,312,409$56,846,668$1,186,505,300

For nearly 20 years, HSEO has been leading the state’s award-winning EPC efforts with a policy offering technicalassistance to state agencies contemplating performance contracting. We’ve assisted the following entities:
 University of Hawaii at Hilo
 Hawaii Health Services Corporation
 City and County of Honolulu’s four city buildings and Kailua Wastewater Treatment Facility
 County of Hawaii
 County of Kauai
 The Judiciary Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS)-Phase I-10 large office buildings
 University of Hawaii Community Colleges Department of Public Safety’s four large facilities
 Department of Transportation: Airports, Highways and Harbors
 DAGS Phase II - 33 buildings Honolulu Board of Water Supply

31 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
The types of technical assistance offered, pending funding, include:
1. Assisting an agency in compiling building plans and other information to use in solicitations
2. Reviewing draft solicitations
3. Evaluating proposed energy conservation measures, including renewable and water efficiency measures
4. Setting energy performance baselines
5. Reviewing methods for estimating energy savings (including formulas and simulation models); measurement andVerification
6. Reviewing investment grade energy audits
7. Reviewing draft contract documents
8. Advising on commissioning
9. Advising on how project risks can be allocated and minimized for the state agency

In 2006 legislative and executive mandates to incorporate energy and resource efficiency and conservation ingovernment facilities, fleets, and personnel practices gave impetus to the state’s Lead by Example (LBE) initiative to put
state agencies at the forefront of energy independence efforts. As shown in the graph below, Hawaii state agencies’
electricity consumption through 2016 has declined 5.3 percent from 2005 (the baseline year). Due to staff reductions,
HSEO will no longer provide a special report on LBE, but we will continue to track and report electricity use by stateagencies.
Comparison of State Agencies’ Electricity Consumption in kWh: FY05 to FY17

32 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
Comparison of kWh Consumption by Agency by YearAG
Department of the Attorney General
DAGS
Department of Accounting and General Services
DBEDT
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
DCCA
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
DHHL
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
DHS
Department of Human Services
DLIR
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
DLNR
Department of Land and Natural Resources
DOA
Department of Agriculture
DOD
Department of Defense
DOE
Department of Energy
DOH
Department of Health
DOT Airports Department of Transportation/Airports Division

DOT Harbors
DOT Highways
FTZ
HCDA
HHFDC
HHSC
HPHA
HSPLS
HTA-CC
NELHA
PSD
UH

Department of Transportation/Harbors Division
Department of Transportation/Highways Division
Foreign-Trade Zone Division
Hawaii Community Development Authority
Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation
Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
Hawaii Public Housing Authority
Hawaii State Public Library System
Hawaii Tourism Authority – Convention Center
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority
Department of Public Safety
University of Hawaii

33 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
Statewide Electricity Consumption Since 2005

120%
100%
80%

Percent Change

60%
40%

20%
0%

-20%
-40%

-60%
Price of Oil ($/bbl)

FY05-06 FY05-07 FY05-08 FY05-09 FY05-10 FY05-11 FY05-12 FY05-13 FY05-14 FY05-15 FY05-16 FY05-17
31.8% 30.0% 99.1% 43.0% 54.2% 83.1% 94.9% 89.1% 107.9% 42.3% -14.4% -0.3%

Total State Avg Retail Price (All Sectors; $/KWH) 20.9% 22.1% 50.5% 54.5% 41.8% 65.5% 104.6% 102.5% 101.5% 81.5% 46.7% 48.7%
Total SOH Building Electricity Cost ($)

23.7% 30.3% 55.4% 57.3% 38.2% 62.0% 101.3% 99.5% 103.4% 81.1% 47.2% 39.5%

KWH

2.2%

4.9%

3.3%

-2.6%

-5.3%

-4.8%

-5.6%

-4.9%

-2.5%

-5.8%

-5.3%

-8.2%

Sources: NYMEX WTI Future Price; EIA-826 ; Utilty (HECO, MECO, HELCO, & KIUC) Billing data

Percentage change in energy consumption, from baseline (2005) and each following year. Shown are the price of oil,the average retail price of electricity*, total statewide electricity costs and electricity consumption (kWh).
Since 1996 state agencies have received nearly $11.5 million in efficiency rebates from Hawaii Energy, the Hawaiian
Electric Company and its subsidiaries. Combined, these rebates have resulted in more than $221 million estimatedcumulative dollar savings and 1.2 billion kWh electricity savings. Over the life of the equipment, the savings would beenough to power about 190,000 households for a year. From June 2016 through March 2017, state agencies received$345,000 in rebates.
*

Based on U.S. Energy Information Administration-826 reporting, dividing utility total revenues by total kWh sold, including fueladjustment cost.

34 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

State Energy Building Code Update
On July 14, 2015, the State Building Code Council (SBCC) unanimously voted to adopt the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC) 2015, with the Tropical Climate Zone Code for residential dwellings and other amendments
appropriate for Hawaii’s climate. After a public hearing which garnered full support of IECC 2015, Gov. Ige signed andapproved IECC 2015 on March 20, 2017, to adopt Chapter 3-181.1, into Hawaii Administrative Rules.
HSEO serves on the SBCC, which was established by statute to update building codes. HSEO provided IECC 2015
technical assistance and staff training for over 300 private and public sector design professionals and county building
officials. HSEO also will testify in support of IECC 2015 when the county councils hold public hearings on their adoption.
The estimated net savings from the 2015 IECC with Hawaii amendments is 12,962 MWh in 2016, 1,083,590 MWh in
2026 (year 10), 1,991,059 MWh in 2030 and 4,702,738 MWh in 2036 (year 20). These savings could power 732,514
homes in 2036, assuming the code is adopted by all counties.
Commercial Code Savings: Commercial buildings would achieve a 35-40 percent energy saving by adopting the base2015 IECC with references to ASHRAE 90.1-2013 (compared to 2006 HEC with references to ASHRAE 90.1-2004).
Amendments under consideration by HSEO will further increase potential energy savings.
Residential Code Savings: Fully conditioned 2015 IECC residences would achieve a 6 to 9 percent improvement inenergy efficiency.
HSEO’s website has more information on the updated energy code at energy.hawaii.gov/hawaii-energy-building-code,
including a report on the analysis of the code amendments, FAQs gathered from the various training sessions
statewide, presentation webinars, fact sheets and a report forecasting the energy savings for the updated code.

Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED)The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its State Market Briefs. The brief highlights the number of LEED
certified and registered projects in the state, as well as the gross square footage. As of May 2017, Hawaii has 173
LEED certified projects and 255 registered projects. This totals 428 total projects for a gross square footage of over 49
million gross square feet. Utilizing less energy and water, LEED-certified spaces save money for families, businesses
and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and thelarger community. The certified buildings included numerous private developments, as well as federal, state, andcounty public buildings.
HSEO remains a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the non-profit entity which administers the LEED
program.
The state requires all new construction and major renovation to meet LEED Silver standards, to the extent possible.
The Hawaii State Energy Office continues to promote LEED training opportunities for state agency staff.

35 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

U.S. Department of Energy Competitive Award
The state submitted a winning proposal to a national competition conducted by the DOE, garnering a $350,000 award
to implement a project to strengthen whole building retrofit energy efficiency programs, identify best practices,develop a database of over 500 state facilities and explore financing options for energy savings. In two years, Hawaii
benchmarked 416 state facilities, which included over 2,600 buildings covering more than 29 million square feet. The
average EUI is 32 and an average ENERGY STAR score is 85. Benchmarking efforts included securing data points tocalculate EUIs, but we were not able to secure all data points for ENERGY STAR verification for all of the state facilities
in the data base. The data points gathered and the EUIs will be held in a central repository for agencies to access whenneeded for future use.
Due to the Cooperative Agreement, 59 state facilities received ENERGY STAR certifications in 2015. In 2016, 24 state
facilities were certified. These certifications contributed to Hawaii’s rankings in the US EPA’s 2016 ENERGY STARranking: Honolulu was #22 in the Top 25 for larger Metro Areas. For Mid-Size cities, Honolulu was #2. For small cities,
Hilo was #8, and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina was tied at #9 with 2 other cities. Other noteworthy achievements were:

1. Completing certification of 83 Schools for ENERGY STAR label. Previous to this project, to the best of ourknowledge, the State Department of Education had certified only 1 school.
2. Creating a large database of 2,600 buildings/facilities with the state’s energy use, building data, and otherinformation found in the DRT. This was previously not available. In addition, this project allowed us to “clean” thedata base. Agencies previously had not reviewed addresses to meters to “clean” the meter data to correctly
attribute meters to properties, an important ENERGY STAR basic requirement.
3. Housing the data base in one central repository for agencies to draw from, add, and reference for present andfuture use to help them better manage their buildings/facilities. This was previously not available.
4. Completing numerous (26) training sessions which were attended by 332 public and private sector employees tointroduce, extend knowledge, and encourage use of benchmarking and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
5. Providing agencies with a better understanding of benchmarking and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and how it
can contribute to a comprehensive Building Management program.
6. Examining data and assessing agency readiness and capability for implementing performance contracting by
bundling building and facilities. Promoting performance contracting options to agencies and inviting participation
when they are ready.
7. Establishing numerous ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager accounts (17) for agencies which may not have had used
this tool. Updating the information for agencies with accounts.
8. Establishing of a good working relationship with state agencies and Hawaii Energy for future energy efficiency
projects. Through this Cooperative Agreement, HSEO has been able to provide a range of training opportunities
including CEM & OEM training, which were more technical than some of the Energy Star training. In turn, agency
staff have found it to be extremely valuable, and we intend to continue to build on this knowledge and relationshipto support additional training and encourage increased energy efficiency improvements.
9. Completion of a Showcase publication featuring the State Department of Transportation performance contracting
project for 12 state airports and becoming the nation’s single largest state performance contract at $158M.
Completion of a Gap Analysis, Best Practices Analysis, and Financing Mechanisms Options Report.
10. Energy Services Coalition (ESC) State Spotlight: Hawaii - Hawaii was recognized at the recent ESC Market
Transformation Conference for the fifth consecutive year as the nation's leader for per capita investment inguaranteed energy savings performance contracting (GESPC). Hawaii's investment of $325.25 per capita in 2016
earned the state a No. 1 ranking.

36 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

ENERGY STAR® Buildings
To help identify energy efficiency investment priorities, agencies and private sector building owners and managers canbenchmark buildings to compare energy usage with other buildings in their portfolio or similar buildings nationally. If abuilding’s performance, as reflected in its ENERGY STAR score, ranks in the top 25 percent of all buildings of its type, it
can be certified as an ENERGY STAR building.
The following chart shows the rapidly increasing number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings in Hawaii. To qualify forcertification, a building must meet ENERGY STAR requirements as verified by a licensed professional engineer orarchitect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) then evaluates the verification submitted and, if approved,
will officially certify the applicant as an ENERGY STAR building. Since 2000, 166 Hawaii buildings have received the
ENERGY STAR certification, including 103 public and 63 private buildings. During this time, HSEO has helped benchmark
83 state facilities. Because energy use is constant, buildings should be verified and certified as ENERGY STAR annually
to ensure optimum efficiency.
180

State ENERGY STAR Buildings
160
DBEDT State ENERGY STAR Program
140
DBEDT Non-State ENERGY STAR
Program120

Non-State ENERGY STAR Buildings

100

80

60

40

20

0
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

In 2016 Hawaii communities appeared in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Top Cities rankings. Honolulu ranked 22nd of theTop 25 Cities, with 69 buildings totaling over 9.6 million total square feet, saving $23 million a year. Honolulu alsoranked second among Top Mid-Size Cities. Among Top Small Cities, Hilo ranked 8th with 9 buildings and Kahului/
Wailuku/Lahaina ranked 9th with 8 buildings.

37 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Hawaii Green Business Program
Hawaii’s businesses are also contributing to the clean energy movement byimproving their operations in an environmentally, culturally and socially
responsible manner. To help businesses implement energy and resource
efficiency practices, the state set up the Hawaii Green Business Program as apartnership between HSEO, the Department of Health, the Board of Water
Supply and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. When businesses embracegreen business practices, they don’t just enjoy utility cost savings – they also
contribute to Hawaii’s collective energy independence goals and, ultimately, amore sustainable environment.
From 2009-2017, over 100 business and government entities have benefited from the program, including sectors
such as hospitality, commercial office, retail, restaurant, food services, grocery, venue and green events. Theirsavings amounts to:• 18.9 million kWh of energy (equivalent to powering 2,940 homes for one year in Hawaii) 136.8 million gallons of water $5.7 million in energy costs
For more information on the Hawaii Green Business Program, visit greenbusiness.hawaii.gov

GreenSun Hawaii Loan Program
The GreenSun Hawaii Loan Loss Reserve Program was established with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of2009 (ARRA) funds and was successful in issuance of 203 loans totaling over $4.8 million. For three years, theGreenSun Hawaii program helped extend loan availability to a larger pool of Hawaii property owners for energy
efficiency and renewable energy retrofits to their homes, apartment complexes, and facilities. It did so by providing
local financial institutions with access to a DOE-funded loan loss reserve that could cover up to 100 percent of actual
losses. The public-private partnership had the ability to leverage $4.25 million in federal funds into $85 million inenergy efficiency and renewable energy equipment loans statewide. The 203 GreenSun Hawaii loans will save 29.9
million kWh of electricity over the life of the installations, which will save participants in excess of $13.2 million overthe life of the installations and reduce CO2 by 2,247,000 lbs. annually (44.9 million lbs. over the life of theinstallations). Energy savings over the life of the equipment is equivalent to powering 4,657 households in one year.
Due to changes in the ARRA finance program rules, GreenSun Hawaii program funds can be repurposed for broader
uses pursuant to the rules of DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

38 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, May 2017

Endnotes
1

U.S. Energy Information Administration, “1990-2015 Net Generation by State by Type of Producer by Energy Source(EIA-906, EIA-920, EIA-923)”, http://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/state/
2
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends/
3
Volumes. Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System
4
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2/
5
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2
6
1 barrel = 42 U.S. gallons
7
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2/
8Electricity: http://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/#/series/31 (last accessed 5/17/17); natural gas: http://www.eia.gov/
state/rankings/#/series/28 (last accessed 5/17/17)
9
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2/
10Chapter 269-91 et. seq., Hawaii Revised Statutes. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/
HRS0269/HRS_0269-0092.htm
11
SmartGrid.gov: http://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid
12
RECOVERY ACT: SMART GRID DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM (SGDP):https://energy.gov/oe/information-center/recovery-act-smart-grid-demonstration-program-sgdp
13
Hawaii Data Book: http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/databook/db2015/section01.pdf
14
Hawaiian Electric Companies. Docket No. 2016-0087, Approval for Smart Grid Foundation Project. March 31, 201615
PSIP Update filed with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on December 23, 2016 at P-43
16
State of Hawaii, Driving EVs Forward: A Case Study of the Market Introduction and Deployment of the EV in Hawaii,2012. http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ReportMauiElectricVehicleAlliance_12_20_12.pdf
17
EV figures updated DBEDT monthly energy trends (March 2017) http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/energy-trends-2/
18
EV Stations Hawaii app (as of September 2016) http://energy.hawaii.gov/testbeds-initiatives/ev-ready-program/evstations-hawaii-mobile-app
19Level 2 charging is at 240 volts. All electric vehicles are equipped for this type of charging. A “charger” can have one
or more ports. The number of “ports” determines how many vehicles each charger can service at a time. One “port”
can service one vehicle
20
Level 3, also known as “fast charging,” can provide an 80% charge for some vehicles in less than 30 minutes, depending on vehicle and charger specifications. Not all vehicles can use fast charging
21
Fuel cost comparisons show approximate savings between internal combustion engine and electric vehicles. The example shows that fuel costs are lower for the Nissan Leaf than for a comparable gasoline fueled vehicle. Nissan Leaf: 24
kWh battery; 0.34 kWh per mile
22
Electricity rate based on Residential rate for Dec. 2016 was 27.78 cents. Source: Monthly Energy Trend, READ, DBEDT
23
Electricity rate based on EV Time of Use Mid-Day Rate (Residential Rate - $0.09). Source: HECO Website: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-rates-and-enrollment/residentialrates
24
Based on fuel prices and 9,465 annual miles per year from Hawaii State Data Book. http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/
economic/databook/. Figure does not include operations and maintenance costs, which are generally shown to belower for electric vehicle ownership25
The Hawaiian Gazette., October 10, 1899, Page 4, Image 4 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025121/189910-10/ed-1/seq-4/
26
U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technology Office http://energy.gov/eere/vehicles/fact-936-august-1-2016california-had-highest-concentration-plug-vehicles-relative
27
Hawaii State Energy Office, Report to the Maui Electric Vehicle Alliance Driving EVs Forward: A Case Study of theMarket Introduction and Deployment of the EV in Hawaii (PDF) http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/
uploads/2011/10/ReportMauiElectricVehicleAlliance_12_20_12.pdf
28
Ranging from mid-$30,000 to $40,000