NEWLY RELEASED REPORT INCLUDES ESSENTIAL HAWAII ENERGY STATISTICS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 19, 2020

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s progress toward achieving its goals in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation and decarbonization is among the updates detailed in the 2020 edition of Hawaii’s Energy Facts and Figures released this week by the Hawaii State Energy Office.

The 43-page report is a compendium of statistics and information about Hawaii’s energy sector intended to support informed-decision making and a better understanding of the energy landscape in Hawaii. The annual publication is aimed at a broad audience, including policymakers, planners, developers, academics, and the general public.

Among the noteworthy details in this edition of Hawaii’s Energy Facts and Figures:

  • Hawaii’s dependence on petroleum has been gradually trending downward from 90 percent of energy needs in 2003 to 84 percent in 2018.
  • Some 57 percent of Hawaii’s crude oil imports were sourced from Libya in 2019 followed by Russia at 34 percent.
  • Energy efficiency measures continue to offer an attractive return on investment. Each dollar spent on efficiency in Hawaii saves 15 times that amount on energy bills compared to a 10-to-1 ratio nationally.
  • Solar accounted for 12.7 percent of Hawaii’s electricity production in 2019 compared with 2.5 percent nationally.
  • Hawaii State government agencies reduced their electricity use by 17.5 percent between 2005 and 2019.
  • Oahu had 205 miles of bike lanes in 2019, the most of any island in the state.
  • Hawaii electric vehicle ownership soared to 12,716 vehicles in October 2020 from 161 vehicles in October 2010.

“The Energy Office continually strives to improve the quality and timeliness of the data and information we compile and disseminate,” said Hawaii Chief Energy Officer Scott Glenn. “Hawaii’s Energy Facts and Figures is a valuable tool for anyone  to understand more about trends and data related to Hawaii’s energy sector.”

The report, first published in 2012, draws on a wide variety of sources, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the International Energy Agency, private-sector energy companies and various Hawaii State agencies. For this report, the data presented are prior to the impacts of COVID-19. Data showing the impacts of COVID-19 on an annual basis are expected to become available for some data sets with the 2021 report.

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About the Hawaii State Energy Office

The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) is an attached agency of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The HSEO’s mission is to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation to help achieve a resilient, clean energy, decarbonized economy. Toward this end, the HSEO is developing policies and programs to achieve our energy and climate change goals while identifying strategies that create jobs, lower costs, and improve quality of life in Hawaii. For more information, visit energy.hawaii.gov

MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Yonan Jr.
Communications Officer
Hawaii State Energy Office
(808) 291-3543
[email protected]

STATEMENT FROM CHIEF ENERGY OFFICER SCOTT GLENN REGARDING PARIS AGREEMENT WITHDRAWAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 4, 2020

The United States today officially withdrew from the Paris climate agreement making it the only nation in the world to abandon the landmark accord. The duration of the United States’ absence from the agreement will depend on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, which is still unclear. If a U.S. administration wanted to reenter the accord it would need to send a notice to the United Nations and after a period of 30 days, the U.S. would be readmitted.

Following is a statement from Scott Glenn, chief energy officer for the State of Hawaii:

“With today’s withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, the need for state and local governments to strengthen their efforts to counter the devastating effects of the climate crisis has never been greater. Hawaii pledges to work on a bipartisan basis with its partners in the 25-state U.S. Climate Alliance to accelerate our ambition and pace of climate leadership. Following science-based climate policies, Climate Alliance states have collectively outpaced the rest of the country in both emissions reductions and economic output. We have shown that building resilient communities and growing a clean energy economy can be achieved. Even as we await the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and the US’ future role in the climate crisis, Hawaii will continue its leadership.”

 

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Yonan Jr.
Communications Officer
DBEDT State Energy Office
(808) 291-3543
[email protected]

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