NEWLY ISSUED HAWAII PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION’S DECISIONS ALIGNED WITH STATE’S LONG-TERM ENERGY GOALS

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2014

HONOLULU — The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) State Energy Office and Gov. Neil Abercrombie commended the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) issuance of four major decisions and orders today.

The PUC’s decisions and orders relate to Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), Reliability Standards Working Group (RSWG), Policy Statement and Order Regarding Demand Response (DR) Programs, and Maui Electric Company (MECO) Rate Case Follow Up.

“The PUC’s issuance of these four crucial decisions and orders are major strides forward in achieving the state’s long-term economic and clean energy goals,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “These actions provide clarity and purpose, and are vital steps towards reducing our state’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. In addition, the white paper, which provides future energy planning and project review, offers a strategic framework to support Hawaii’s transformation to a clean energy economy.”

The PUC’s orders provide guidance to the Hawaiian Electric Companies to aggressively pursue energy cost reductions and proactively invest in and respond to emerging renewable energy integration challenges.

“DBEDT commends the PUC for carrying out the state’s energy policy directives in pursuit of maximizing the deployment of clean energy production,” said Richard Lim, DBEDT director.  “The orders provide HECO a clear road map and serve as a foundational platform to allow the company to aggressively pursue major initiatives to build a customer centric distribution system that facilitates increased levels of both distributed generation and utility scale renewables, which have already proven to be cost effective.”

“The PUC’s decisions and orders support the state’s quest to enable an integrated energy ecosystem based on maximizing renewable energy and energy efficiency measures,” added State Energy Administrator Mark Glick.  “It requires a strategic approach and collaboration by the PUC and our energy stakeholders to fulfill the state’s clean energy commitment to go beyond 40 percent renewable energy for power generation.”

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The Hawaii State Energy Office is leading the state’s charge toward clean energy independence. With a goal to meet and exceed Hawaii’s 70 percent clean energy targets by 2030, the State Energy Office is committed to developing and deploying high impact solutions that will maximize Hawaii’s renewable energy resources and improve efficiency and transportation standards. Through effective policies and innovative programs, the State Energy Office has positioned Hawaii as a leading proving ground for clean energy innovation, which will generate quality jobs, attract investment opportunities and accelerate economic growth. The State Energy Office is a division of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. For more information, visit www.energy.hawaii.gov.

For more information, contact:

Kathy Yim
Acting Communications Officer
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 587-9003