Repower Hawaii Last updated: August 13, 2009

Did you know?

• Hawaii became the first state in the nation to require solar water heaters in new homes being constructed after January 1, 2010. Solar water heaters absorb the sun's energy to heat water for household uses.
• PowerWorks will build a 100-acre, 10-megawatt solar PV project in Kauai that will provide the energy for about 2,050 homes and produce $100 million in local economic benefits over 25 years.
• Hawaii has a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires all public utilities to generate 20% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020, and a Clean Energy Initiative goal of 70% by 2030.

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Clean energy jobs in Hawaii

Hawaii,which imports petroleum for 78% of its energy needs, would benefit significantly from switching to renewable sources of energy. Although the state has yet to fully capitalize on its clean, abundant resources, it is making progress.

For example, there are currently over 60-megawatts of wind installed on the Big Island and Maui, with the capacity to power over 15,000 homes. And a 30-megawatt geothermal power plant is providing about 20% of electricity to the Big Island.

The continued focus on generating clean energy can also provide great job opportunities for the state. Investing $620 million in Hawaii's clean energy economy could create more than 7,000 jobs in the state.

Sources: Center for American Progress (CAP) and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy, (June. 2009)

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Chris L. of Honolulu works as an engineer for OCEES International, Inc., a Honolulu-based company that develops and designs ocean-based renewable energy systems that create energy using the temperature difference between the ocean’s warm, shallow water and cool, deep water. Chris works primarily in the technical design of these systems (called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion systems) and also provides economic analyses of new project locations. Chris has always wanted to do work that benefitted others and he feels that he has found his niche with OCEES. "The opportunity to introduce a technology that could impact the world as beneficially as ocean thermal energy conversion technology really makes me feel good about what I am working towards," Chris said.

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