Hawaii’s energy policy seeks to ensure dependable, efficient, and economical energy; increased energy self-sufficiency; greater energy security; and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy planning considers Hawaii’s unique resources, challenges, and opportunities in accordance with the state’s energy policy. Data is also collected and analyzed for Hawaii’s energy supplies, prices, and energy use.
Introduction and overview of the following summarizes the planning and policy-making efforts of the Hawaii State Energy Office.
Energy Assurance
Energy Assurance & Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection Authority: Chapters 128 & 125C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and Administrative Directive 95-02: Civil Defense Policy
DBEDT’s State Energy Office leads the State government’s effort to ensure a robust, secure, and reliable energy infrastructure in the contemporary energy environment. As the sector specific agency for energy, DBEDT works closely with State Civil Defense and dozens of government and industry emergency management and security partners to lower vulnerabilities, deter threats, minimize the consequences of energy disruptions, and enhance recovery of Hawaii’s energy systems.
Hawaii’s Energy Assurance Program provides organizational and planning coordination and support for energy emergency management in facilitating the rapid restoration of Hawaii’s energy systems and mitigating the impact of energy shortages. On a daily basis, the Energy Assurance Program tracks natural and manmade energy disruption events, and homeland security related incidents which could impact Hawaii’s energy supply and delivery.
Read the Energy Assurance Program Plan Update, September 2011 and Energy Assurance Program, Hawaii State Energy Office, August 2011. To read the PDFs, you will need appropriate software such as Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader.
Hawaii State Energy Council
A government and industry partnership working together to meet the challenge to be prepared to effectively contend with energy emergencies and threats to Hawaii’s energy security.
Hawaii State Energy Council Mission
Support the implementation of Emergency Support Function #12 (ESF #12), Energy, consistent with State Civil Defense programs and plans. The HSEC’s responsibility is to coordinate activities and information necessary to facilitate the affected energy utilities safe, rapid restoration of the commercial energy grid, and facilitate the availability and adequacy of fuel supplies, storage, and distribution to sustain essential and emergency facilities and services until normal commercial energy service can be restored. The EC also coordinates plans and facilitates activities and information for protection of critical energy infrastructure for Homeland Security.
Energy Assurance Presentations & Documents
Enhancing State Government Energy Assurance Capabilities and Planning for Smart Grid Resiliency Grant
Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy was provided for the states to improve emergency preparedness plans and ensure grid resiliency on a regional basis, including staff training on smart grid technology integration, interdependencies, and cyber security.
The funds focus on developing new, or refining existing, plans to integrate new energy portfolios (renewable, biofuels, etc.) and new applications, such as Smart Grid technology, into energy assurance and emergency preparedness plans. Better planning efforts will help contribute to the resiliency of the energy sector, including the electricity grid, by focusing on the entire energy supply system, which includes refining, storage, and distribution of fossil and renewable fuels.
Our island environment is not only the basis for our quality of life, it is also the lifeblood of our economy. We look at environmental issues with future generations in mind, and as we explore Hawaii’s boundless, clean energy potential, we trust they will benefit from our stewardship.