Hawaii Energy
Policy Forum > Forum Meetings > October 16, 2009
Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum
General Membership Meeting
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 309
Friday, October 16, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Objectives
- Briefings on the State’s energy building codes; Fuel security and the biofuels transition
- Update on legislative and outreach/communication plans
Briefing: Hawai‘i's Energy Codes Leapfrog Over Mainland Codes by Howard Wiig, DBEDT Energy Office
- Legislature passed Act 107 (2007) that created a suite of statewide building codes, including energy
- IECC mandates that code shall be updated every three years – 2009 codes are in process
- Responses to follow-up questions
- If all buildings in Hawai‘i were brought up to 2009 code, we could easily see a 30% increase in energy efficiency
- Extensive retrofits on homes typically cost $3,000 to $4,000
- Realtors can create demand for energy efficient homes – Honolulu Board of Realtors has a energy working group and “green” certification.
- Incentives for retrofitting could be funded with ARRA funding through the Hawai‘i Energy Efficiency Program (HEEP)
- A next step could be to require home sellers to provide an energy report
- Enforcing the statewide building codes does not require additional personnel. Energy codes are typically enforced through a sign-off by the project’s architect or engineer. Residences are required to display a certificate from the contractor.
- Adopting the IECC 2006 regulations statewide sets a minimum for the counties.
- All counties will adopt the 2006 regulations; Kaua‘i is adopting the 2009 regulations
- There has been work to localize the code and eliminate inapplicable codes
- Codes apply to new and renovated buildings; all equipment and products must be certified by a third party
Briefing: Fuel Security & The Biofuels Transition
Tesoro Hawai‘i Presentation by Rick Weyen, VP of Renewable Energy, Tesoro Corporation
- Interested in advanced technology to utilize existing refineries and create products that are compatible with current infrastructure
- Pyrolysis is the favored conversion technology – products are easiest to input into the refinery, but it is not currently being used to produce transportation fuels
- Refinery needs the volume of feedstock that fits local production – 5 MW
The Gas Company Presentation by Jeffrey Kissel, President & CEO, The Gas Company
- Animal fat is a potential feedstock for syngas production
- Bringing the fat to O‘ahu for processing could provide an incentive to rebuild slaughterhouses
- There will not be a competition with smaller refineries that utilize restaurant grease because TGC requires cleaner feedstock.
- Landfill gas is another potential feedstock. Processing facilities are located 8 miles away from the landfill; but a pipeline could be built or H-Power could be expanded to use residual MSW gas
- Gas was not being counted in meeting the HCEI goals until recently – the Consumer Advocate submitted a docket to the PUC to include gas in the IRP.
Meeting Summary Notes
Plans for the 2010 Legislative Session—HEPF priority legislative proposals
- Support funding for the PUC reorganization and permanent funding for State energy leadership (Hawaii State Energy Office,DBEDT & DCA)
- Support a utilities liability study to frame the costs of pursuing energy initiatives with existing capital structure and outline options for funding (this may not be a legislative item but HEPF will seek other funding sources)
- Energy efficiency in transportation (based on HEPF study)
- Support a concurrent resolution to introduce an Energy Master Plan
- Similar initiatives are in progress – DBEDT/HCEI road map, CESP docket
o Is a government-led master plan necessary? Market is driving change faster than the legislature can, and central planning may not be a major boost.
- A master plan would be geared toward implementation – many different decisions are being made everywhere, but there needs to be a collaborative direction
- Previous plans were only studies of options
- Address major overarching issues – how to address the other 30% (not included in HCEI), personnel capacity within key agencies
January Legislative Briefing Agenda
- Should be about an hour or 90 minutes maximum, and no (spoken) Forum introduction
- 3 panel format – combination of legislators and HEPF members, with a strong moderator
o Let panelists present legislative proposals first, then allow legislators to respond
- Frame the energy issues in terms of economic development, etc.
- Focus on the desired outcome of energy policy, not the individual bills—Three outcomes/successes we need from legislation from the HEPF
- Invite committee chairs; invite media
- Timing—schedule one week or two after the Legislature opens (January 26 or 28)
Outreach/Communication Plan
- Sequel to the Climate Crisis video – $60,000 total, need $10,000 to $15,000 per sponsor
- DBEDT agreed to sponsor; Blue Planet and HNEI may sponsor, still looking for others
Upcoming Events
- Interisland Cable Panel Briefing – November 17th, 1-3pm, Hawai‘i State Capitol Rm. 325
- Bioenergy Master Plan Briefing – December 1, 1-3pm, Hawai‘i State Capitol Rm. 325
- OHA Native Hawaiian Business Conference & Economic Expo – January 13, 2010
- Day 3 is devoted to energy issues – anyone interested in helping to plan the agenda should contact Mark Glick (along with Mitch and Mark D.)
- Other parts of the conference will focus on Federal, State, and County procurement – i.e. Honolulu Rail, Federal Guam initiative, interisland cable
- Potential topics: transportation, large infrastructure issues
- Next GM meeting – January 26/28, 2010 at the State Capitol
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