Hawaii Biofuels Summit ∨
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Design Philosophy
GOAL
Help the State of Hawaii meet its renewable energy goals by paving the way for a biofuels industry
CHALLENGE
Overcome barriers, restrictions and incentives which indirectly limit biofuels production
METHOD
Strategic Consulting, Innovation Lab, Stakeholder Engagement
OUTCOME
Hawaiian Electric Industries announced its commitment to secure biofuels for power production
OVERVIEW
In 2005, the State of Hawaii mandated the incorporation of more renewable resources into the state’s energy portfolio, while meeting pre-existing energy, agriculture, environmental, and economic targets.
To support these goals, new regulations require increased levels of alternate fuels for transportation and renewable sources in electricity sales.
In both cases, biofuels have the potential to supply a significant portion of the renewable energy.
Despite this potential, several barriers have prevented agricultural-based biofuels production in Hawaii.
Overcoming these barriers required innovative collaboration between the public and private sectors. To promote this collaboration, the Hawaii Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism hired RMI to facilitate an Innovation Lab -- the Hawaii Biofuels Summit in August 2006.
RMI led the design, organization and facilitation of the Summit, which brought together approximately 50 participants from around the state, including incumbant Governor Linda Lingle and key members of her cabinet and administration, as well as CEO-level representatives of the private sector biofuels value chain: large landowners, biofuels converters, oil companies, and marine and electric biofuels end users.
During the Summit, participants identified a number of solutions that could overcome barriers to and accelerate the development of a biofuels industry in the state.
The group recommended that the state:
- Provide incentives for in-state production;
- Streamline permitting and secure county cooperation;
- Bolster and coordinate research and development on agricultural crops, processing, and conversion;
- Provide infrastructure development to enable fuels to move to market;
- Clarify the water access issue; and
- Coordinate investment across the value chain.