STATE UPGRADES ONLINE RENEWABLE ENERGY MAPPING TOOL

For Immediate Release: January 11, 2018

HONOLULU — The State of Hawaii has unveiled an updated version of its Renewable EnerGIS online mapping tool that will make it easier for land owners, developers, residents and policy makers to assess the renewable energy potential of sites statewide as Hawaii moves ahead with its clean energy transformation.

The new Renewable EnerGIS tool may be found at: energy.hawaii.gov/resources/renewable-energis-map

The new tool was developed by the Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) and the Hawaii Statewide Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Program in the Hawaii Office of Planning. It includes a number of improvements over the original platform launched in 2012 by HSEO, a division of the State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT). EnerGIS helps users make “first cut” site decisions to determine whether a particular site may be suitable for a renewable energy project. Based on available data in the Hawaii Statewide GIS Program files, also known as “layers,” the new Renewable EnerGIS tool allows users at a glance to compare sites based on criteria such as energy resources, rainfall, slope, soil characteristics, land use classification, zoning and critical habitats.

“Reaching our ambitious renewable energy goals will require a considerable amount of additional generating capacity from solar, wind and other renewable energy sources,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “Finding suitable sites for these projects is critical, and the new Renewable EnerGIS tool will help immensely in that process.”

Leo Asuncion, Director of the Office of Planning, added: “This tool can be used by developers and the general public alike for energy planning purposes. Users can have confidence in the results because the Renewable EnerGIS tool utilizes the State’s authoritative data layers.”

Renewable EnerGIS is designed to be user-friendly without the need for special skills, software or experience. A key feature of the upgrade is a new “attribute query” search function that allows users to enter up to 10 criteria to fine tune their search. Users also can research specific sites by entering a tax map key or site address or by selecting sites from a map.

“The Renewable EnerGIS tool is part of our suite of self-help applications the Hawaii State Energy Office offers renewable energy developers and other energy stakeholders that can be found at energy.hawaii.gov,” said Carilyn O. Shon, HSEO administrator. “Renewable EnerGIS allows for more appropriate renewable energy project siting and informed project planning and permitting, thereby decreasing project development timelines, costs and impacts.”

The new Renewable EnerGIS tool was developed by The Onyx Group under a contract with DBEDT. The Onyx Group has developed several custom GIS website tools for the State, including Flood Hazard Assessment Tool and the Public Land Trust Information System.

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About the Hawaii State Energy Office
The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) is a division of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. With the state’s goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2045, HSEO is leading the state’s charge toward clean energy independence. HSEO 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, HSEO has positioned Hawaii port as a leader in clean energy innovation, which will generate quality jobs, attract investment opportunities and accelerate economic growth. For more information, visit energy.hawaii.gov.

About the Hawaii Statewide GIS Program
Authorized under Chapter 225M-2(b)(4)(B), Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), as amended, the Hawaii Statewide GIS Program within the Office of Planning leads a multi-agency effort to establish, promote and coordinate the use of GIS data and technology among Hawaii state agencies. The program is critical to more than 150 state GIS data and system users across more than a dozen state departments that develop and maintain a wide variety of data, maps and applications — many of which are available to the public and/or relied upon by state personnel.

For more information, visit the Hawaii Statewide GIS Program main webpage at: https://planning.hawaii.gov/gis or visit the State’s Geospatial Data Portal at: https://geoportal.hawaii.gov.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Yonan Jr.
Communications Officer
DBEDT State Energy Office
(808) 587-3860
[email protected]

HAWAII CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE MARKS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

For Immediate Release: January 9, 2018

HONOLULU — Hawaii celebrated a milestone today by marking the 10th anniversary of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI).

Since its launch a decade ago, HCEI has proven to be an invaluable resource in advancing Hawaii’s ongoing effort to achieve energy self-sufficiency.

Today’s event, held at Washington Place, brought together a wide range of energy stakeholders, including representatives from government, energy companies, non-profits, and special interests groups. Participants recognized the contributions of HCEI, which is widely recognized for establishing the most aggressive clean energy goals in the nation.

“For the past 10 years the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative has been instrumental in Hawaii’s bold pursuit of a clean energy future that benefits all of the state’s residents,” said Gov. David Ige. “Built of the foundation of our invaluable relationship with the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and other key stakeholders, HCEI will continue to serve as a guiding force as we face the challenges of transitioning to a 100 percent clean energy future,” Ige said.

HCEI traces its roots to a 2008 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State of Hawaii and the USDOE. The overarching goal of this unprecedented collaboration was to transform the energy foundation of Hawaii’s entire economy to clean energy, using Hawaii’s indigenous renewable energy resources. The State of Hawaii and the USDOE reaffirmed their commitment to Hawaii’s clean energy future in an updated MOU signed in 2014. A critical component of the MOU is the technical assistance provided to Hawaii by the USDOE through its network of national labs.

“Hawaii is a leader in the global energy transformation, and NREL is proud to contribute to the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative’s success,” said Martin Keller, Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

HCEI has provided the impetus for a host of statues and regulations aimed at reducing Hawaii’s dependency on fossil fuels, including historic Act 97, which made Hawaii the first state to set a target of generating 100 percent of its electricity sales from renewable resources. At the heart of HCEI is the diverse group of stakeholders who have joined together to deliver Hawaii’s clean energy future. Thanks to this broad based support from this stakeholder alliance HCEI has grown stronger during the course of three gubernatorial administrations and five biennial legislative sessions.

“On the 10-year anniversary of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, it’s important to reflect on how this pioneering effort has established Hawaii as a leader in energy policy and deployment of energy efficiency measures and renewable generation,” said Luis P. Salaveria, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “As the state’s blueprint for energy transformation and independence, HCEI is helping stimulate economic growth in an innovation economy by elevating Hawaii’s job growth prospects and business opportunities.”

Hawaii has made significant progress in its clean energy transformation since the launch of HCEI. Renewable energy now accounts for about 27 percent of utility electricity sales, and carbon emissions from power plants are down by more than 750,000 metric tons. In addition, the state is ahead of its interim target for reducing energy demand through efficiency and conservation measures. Clean energy also has become an important source of job growth in Hawaii, with 5,100 people employed in energy efficiency and 4,900 in the solar industry, according to a recent report from the USDOE.

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About the Hawaii State Energy Office
The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) is a division of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. With the state’s goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2045, HSEO is leading the state’s charge toward clean energy independence. HSEO 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, HSEO has positioned Hawaii port as a leader in clean energy innovation, which will generate quality jobs, attract investment opportunities and accelerate economic growth.

For more information, visit energy.hawaii.gov.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Yonan Jr.
Communications Officer
DBEDT State Energy Office
(808) 587-3860
[email protected]

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