GREENSUN HAWAII LOAN PROGRAM FINANCES $2 MILLION IN SOLAR INSTALLATIONS STATEWIDE

For Immediate Release: October 31, 2013

HONOLULU —GreenSun Hawaii, a loan program administered by the Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corporation (HCRC), has reached the $2 million milestone of loans issued. The initiative was launched in 2011 to increase energy efficiency in Hawaii by providing residential, multi-family projects, nonprofits and businesses with affordable means of financing the installation of energy efficient and renewable energy systems.

Annually, the program calculates an estimated savings of 556,000 kilowatt hours and a combined savings in the participants’ electric bills in excess of $221,000.

“GreenSun Hawaii is a model example of how innovative financing programs play a key role in transitioning Hawaii to a clean energy economy,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “As Hawaii advances toward energy independence, clean energy is the driver that powers our economic growth and creates new clean energy industries.”

In addition to reaching the $2 million milestone for financing residential installations, GreenSun Hawaii also completed the funding of its first commercial installation: a $300,000 project for a nonprofit. The organization will save about 193,000 kilowatt hours, equivalent to a utility savings of approximately $62,000 annually.

“Gov. Abercrombie’s New Day plan proclaims energy to be the state’s most important economic enterprise,” said Richard Lim, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). “GreenSun Hawaii’s financing infrastructure helps the state grow its clean energy economy and meet its clean energy goals.”

Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (Recovery Act Funds), the program is a public-private partnership that has leveraged $3.75 million in federal funds to support $75 million in energy financing statewide. The funds were made available through DBEDT to increase the use of solar energy, decrease the state’s independence on imported fossil fuel and lower overall energy costs throughout the islands.

“This innovative loan program makes energy-savings systems accessible to more residents, nonprofits and businesses,” said State Energy Administrator Mark Glick. “Innovative financing, like the GreenSun Hawaii program, plays a critical role in ensuring the broadest possible segment of our population is included.”

For more information about GreenSun Hawaii, including lists of participating lenders and authorized contractors, and an online loan application, visit www.greensunhawaii.com.

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For more information, contact:

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

NEWLY APPROVED LOCAL BIOFUELS CONTRACT ALIGNED WITH STATE’S LONG-TERM ENERGY GOALS

For Immediate Release: October 14, 2013

HONOLULU — The State Energy Office commends a new fuel contract between Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaiian Electric) and Hawaii BioEnergy (HBE) recently approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The agreement calls for Hawaiian Electric to purchase approximately 10 million gallons of locally produced biofuels annually from HBE over 20 years for the utility’s Kahe Power Plant in Kapolei.

“The PUC’s approval of this agreement sets a clear path for achieving the state’s long-term economic and clean energy interests,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “This agreement will contribute to Hawaii’s green job growth, which is a key part of Hawaii’s economic transformation through the expanding clean energy sector.”

HBE is a consortium of three of Hawaii’s largest landowners and three venture capital companies that plan to use locally grown feedstocks to produce biofuels. The agreement allows HBE to provide Hawaiian Electric with biofuels produced from dedicated local sustainable energy crops on Kauai to offset and reduce imported fossil fuels.

“Having a diverse renewable energy portfolio that includes renewable biofuels for the electricity sector will also help the state achieve a clean energy transformation that may benefit the transportation sector in the long term,” said PUC Chair Hermina Morita.

The agreement comes three months after HBE announced an agreement with Alaska Airlines to supply the carrier with sustainable biofuels. HBE has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Boeing Company to evaluate opportunities to develop renewable aviation fuels in Hawaii.

“As Hawaii emerges as a global clean energy leader, this is an example of how technologies developed and deployed here can have a significant impact worldwide,” said Richard Lim, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “Hawaii BioEnergy’s strategy to also target the aviation market reinforces the state’s energy policy to develop locally produced renewable biofuels production through long-term contracts and move into higher value markets such as jet fuel.”

“The PUC’s decision to approve this long-term contract for the production of locally produced biofuels is supportive of the state’s quest for a diverse portfolio of clean energy solutions and greater price stability for our energy consumers,” added State Energy Administrator Mark Glick. “This agreement sets the stage for locally produced biofuels to play a more meaningful role in helping achieve the state’s renewable portfolio standard.”

The state’s energy policy may be found on the State Energy Office’s website at energy.hawaii.gov. The PUC’s decision may be found on its website at https://dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms/ (Docket No. 2011-0369).

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For more information, contact:

Noreen Kam
Communications Officer
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 587-3860

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