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]