Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Sections
Personal tools
You are here: Home → Energy
« February 2012 »
February
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829
 

Energy Program

The Energy Coordinator participates in State and utility energy planning and regulatory programs, maintains the County's energy emergency preparedness program and implements comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy program for the County of Hawai‘i.

Contact Information

South Point Windmills

Will Rolston

Energy Coordinator
Telephone: (808) 323-4704
Fax: (808) 323-4701
E-mail: wrolston@co.hawaii.hi.us

Background

Energy production and consumption is a major concern for Hawai‘i County's businesses, residents and taxpayers as global markets have experienced instability and rising energy prices. Hawai‘i Island's physical isolation requires the expenditure of energy for transporting many of the goods we consume and produce. We also rely on imported fossil fuels for over 80% of our energy needs. The island's economy spent $750 million dollars on imported fossil fuels (2007) and these expenditures made up 16% of the Gross County Product. Typical energy expenditures in the U.S. mainland are closer to 8%, which makes Hawai‘i County's spending double that of the U.S. continent. An average resident spent $4,411 dollars on imported energy and consumed 800 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel in 2007i and the Hawai‘i Island economy emitted 2.8 million tons of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in 2007ii. Overall, 68% of fossil fuel for electricity generation and 99.9% of transportation fuel was imported to the Island of Hawai‘i in 2008.

The Hawai‘i County Energy Program is working to encourage the implementation of renewable sources of energy, support efforts to encourage greater energy efficiency and put these initiatives into practice; leading by example by incorporating renewable resources and improving efficiency in county equipment, operations and facilities.

Program Goals 

    1. To maximize the energy efficiency for all Hawai‘i Island energy systems.
    2. To maximize the use of renewable energy for electrical energy generation and transportation on Hawai‘i Island.
    3. To improve the County's energy emergency preparedness.

Program Focus

 The Energy program focuses on three key areas to work towards its goals:

      • Plan - Update County's energy emergency preparedness and the in-house energy conservation and efficiency strategy.
      • Policy - Advise, draft and/or monitor local and state energy policies.
      • Implement - Facilitate the implementation of the County Energy Sustainability Plan and Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative. The energy program also supports and coordinates the activities of the Mayor's Energy Advisory Commission and provides information to the island community.

Based on 80 million gallons of gasoline at $3.10 per gallon, 20 million gallons of diesel at $3.50 per gallon, 1,200 million kWh of electricity at $0.327 (residential) and $0.300 (other), 30 million gallons of aviation fuel at $1.90 per gallon, and liquid petroleum gas sales of $5 million - County of Hawai‘i Energy Sustainability Plan 2007

iSource: The State of Hawai‘i Data Book, 2007

iiSource: ICF International Draft Report to State Greenhouse Gas Task Force, 2008

Document Actions