Hawaii is making remarkable progress in its mission to reduce its reliance on oil and capitalize on its plentiful renewable energy sources. To this end, the state has implemented a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that requires a certain percentage of electricity sold by power companies to come from renewable sources. This article will provide an overview of Hawaii's RPS, including eligible renewable energy resources, incentive programs, and the progress made so far. Eligible renewable energy resources in Hawaii include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, certain hydroelectric resources, and methane from coal mines. These resources are used to meet the state's portfolio standards and can also be imported from neighboring states or purchased through renewable energy credits (RECs).Hawaii has a variety of incentive programs to encourage the adoption of renewable energy and the improvement of energy efficiency by commercial, residential and government energy consumers.
The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) has made significant progress thanks to the policy of turning the state's renewable energy portfolio and energy efficiency objectives into law. To promote a diversified mix of resources and encourage the deployment of certain technologies, states have established exceptions and credit multipliers for renewable energy in their RPS for specific energy technologies, such as offshore wind energy or rooftop solar energy. Hawaii's goal of 100% renewable energy would have to be met within the state's closed energy ecosystem, an exception to which many other states are not restricted. However, new laws, corporate commitments, and a favorable economy are giving a considerable boost to renewable energy in the United States. Iowa and Texas require specific amounts of renewable energy capacity rather than percentages, and Kansas requires a percentage to cover peak demand. In conclusion, Hawaii is making remarkable progress towards its goal of 100% renewable energy.
The state has implemented a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires a certain percentage of electricity sold by power companies to come from renewable sources. In addition, Hawaii offers a variety of incentive programs to encourage the adoption of renewable energy and the improvement of energy efficiency by commercial, residential and government energy consumers. With new laws, corporate commitments, and a favorable economy giving a considerable boost to renewable energy in the United States, Hawaii is well on its way to achieving its goal.
