Hawaii Energy
Policy Forum > Forum Meetings > August 18, 2009
Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum
General Membership Meeting
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 309
Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Notes
Objectives
- Review plan and adopt priority initiatives for upcoming year
- Update and input on energy efficient transportation strategies study
- Informational briefing from Congressional Delegation; on Oahu Bike Plan: and Greenhouse Gas Regulations
The Forum welcomed the following new HEPF members
- Stephanie Ackerman, Hawai‘i Gas Company
- Laura Dierenfield, People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawai‘i (PATH)
- Kelly King, Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance o Will Rolston, County of Hawai‘i Energy Office
Congressional Delegation Update—Amy Asselbaye, Office of US Congressman Abercrombie
- House passed the American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009 (HR 2454) right before the 4th of July recess; Senate received bill on 7/7/09
- Main foci of the bill include: 1) a cap on greenhouse gases, 2) electrifying transportation, 3) provisions for energy usage (appliance, bldg), 4) creation of green jobs, 5) Carbon Capture
- HR 2454 does not preempt the state law. There could be two sets of renewable energy standards that Hawai‘i has to meet if the state chooses to adopt its own standards.
- The bill allows efficiency to count toward meeting goals. In Hawai‘i, both efficiency and renewable energy will help to meet goals.
- Restrictions for power suppliers will not affect all of the Hawaiian Electric Industries affiliates, just HECO—only utilities above 4 million MW per year are affected.
- It is unsure if anyone could sell credit on the market, and it is unsure if Hawai‘i could sell any extra credits (after it meets state goals) to meet the federal requirement. Many of the initial credits (80%) will be free.
- House Energy & Commerce Committee website has legislation, including section-by-section summaries of the climate change bill, health care reform, and food safety bill.
Report on Transportation Study: Preliminary Results & Discussion—Drs. Makena Coffman & Peter Flachsbart, UH Manoa DURP
- Update was given on the Energy Efficiency in Transportation Study
- Results of similar national surveys will be used to compare data for consistency—i.e. price versus fuel economy in new vehicle purchases
- It is possible to get a qualitative summary of differences in Hawai‘i versus the mainland
- Statistical analysis was done on demographics of telephone survey respondents
- Average age was in the 50s—older than ideal, but it’s a common issue among telephone surveys nationwide (data will be age-weighted)
- Average age of web survey respondents is younger
- Timeline: The web survey will be finished on 8/31/09 and a draft report will be done by November 2009. Policy recommendations may be available for review by the Act 254 Working Group and the Forum beforehand.
O‘ahu Bike Plan: Chris Sayers, Coordinator, City & County of Honolulu
- What is the difference between a bike route, lane, and path?
- Route: Signs specifying a bike route can be found along roads that are not wide enough for bike lanes. Speed limit is lower, and there are no buses.
- Lane: On-road facility, separated with stripe
- Path: Separated path for bikes. Paths are considered the safest for rider
- Comment period for O‘ahu Bike Plan ends August 31, 2009. Comments can go directly to website or email info@oahubikeplan.org
GHG Regulation on How Hawai‘i’s Energy Sector is Unique Sam Pintz, Hawaiian Electric Company
- Hawai‘i has a unique energy situation, and GHG emissions in Hawai‘i are more CO2 dominated
- High visitor ratios, and visitors emit more than residents
- Transportation in Hawai‘i is 55% of emissions (national average is 33%
- Ambitious parts of cap and trade call for 83% emission reduction by 2050. Initially, about 15% of the credits will be sold and 80% given out for free.
- Ratio will change over time—70% sold in 2030.
- Two billion tons of offsets allowed in this system (forest growing or carbon sequestration) and there is a ceiling price on C credit.
- Hawai‘i will receive a small part of the 10% of allocations given to states
- We should not lose focus on Hawai‘i’s unique issues as the momentum for federal GHG legislation increases—push Act 234 to its conclusion as an alternative to federal GHG legislation
- Discussion/Comments/Questions
- Section 235 is beneficial for Hawai‘i, in terms of new building codes. New building codes are long-term measures.
- Increasing carbon prices put pressure on the market to move to renewables, and this bill strengthens the incentives to do this sooner.
- Current loss of the barrel tax does not bode well for a stricter state-level carbon tax. However, there could be a dual federal and state system, though it is not ideal
Forum Business
- Adopting Priority Action Initiatives 2009-2010
- SC met to assess last year’s activities and developed priority initiatives for the upcoming year
- Discussion centered on a legislative program for the upcoming session and topics for public briefings
- Outreach/Communication Working Group Update – Peter Rosegg
- WG has developed a proposed Outreach/Communication Strategy
- Main strategy is to work together with other organizations in a number of areas of policy discussion, and to make research and initiatives more publically accessible
- Renewable Energy Working Group Update – Warren Bollmeier
- This year’s plan is to shed a different light on different areas of HCEI (i.e. cable, the 100MW RFP) and keep an emphasis on policy, possibly by tracking PUC dockets if there is an interest (net metering, RPS, IRP, PV host program)
- Energy Efficiency Working Group Update – Darren Kimura
- WG is open to new members and may be looking to revive the energy efficiency by example program (energy audits for companies)
- Transportation Working Group Update
- Maria Tome (DBEDT) is the new WG co-chair, and the Act 254 WG is continuing to meet and will act as the Transportation WG
- Cultural and Social Impact Working Group Update – Mark Glick
- Day 3 of the Native Hawaiian Business Conference & Expo in January could be used to address HEPF’s priorities as a warm-up to the legislative briefing, since many legislators participate
- Hydrocarbon Futures Working Group – Lance Tanaka
- Stephanie Ackerman (The Gas Company) is a new co-chair
- Working to integrate refineries into the Bioenergy Master Plan—Hawai‘i needs refineries to transition and ensure energy/fuel security
- Coordinating a briefing on the future of biofuels and refineries to be presented in October/Novembe
- Next HEPF General Membership meeting will be on October 16, 2009
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