TRANSFORMING HAWAI'I INTO A HYDROGEN-BASED ECONOMY

Hawaii has an unprecedented opportunity to lead the world in a technological transformation that will fundamentally alter everyone’s way of life in the 21st century. Nearly all energy experts agree that over the next several decades hydrogen will replace fossil fuels as the primary fuel in a modern economy. By taking steps today to lead the world in this transition, Hawaii can develop a clean, high tech industry and achieve energy self-sufficiency.

With abundant solar, wind, and geothermal energy resources as well as a year-round growing season, Hawaii can capitalize on its renewable energy capacity to produce the hydrogen that will fuel our local economy and economies throughout the Pacific. This vision is not novel. The island nation of Iceland has already declared its intent to become a completely energy self-sufficient and hydrogen-based economy within 30 years. Hawaii can become Iceland’s equivalent in the Pacific and in doing so substantially improve our economic security, vitality, and sustainability.

Hawaii is already leading the transition to a hydrogen-based economy in several ways. University of Hawaii scientists are at the forefront of developing materials to produce and store hydrogen. The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELHA) on the Big Island is poised to become a national leader in distributed generation and applied hydrogen research. Hawaii vital role in the commercial development of hydrogen technology as the Hawaiian Islands are ideal geographically to test new hydrogen technologies in both the electrical utility and transportation sectors.

I am resolutely pursuing a hydrogen future for Hawaii and have taken the following actions to put our state at the forefront of this high-tech industry:

• establish a public/private partnership for hydrogen research & development - I passed legislation in the 2001 session that created a public/private partnership within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Since creating this partnership, Hawaii has matched the legislative appropriation of $200,000 twenty to one.

• remove barriers to renewable energy and other distributed energy sources – The development of a hydrogen-based economy is directly related to the breakdown of the traditional centralized grid system and development of renewable energy. Throughout my time in the Legislation, I have pushed legislation to break down the bureaucratic, economic, and institutional barriers to alternative energy.

• educate decision-makers about Hawaii’s hydrogen potential – I take every chance possible to educate my colleagues in the State Legislature, various levels of government, the business community, and the public about the potential of hydrogen energy for Hawai‘i. It is a slow process but more people are beginning to see Hawaii’s precarious energy dependence on fossil fuel and the opportunities that hydrogen and renewable energy offer.

By continuing these efforts to build a hydrogen-based energy industry in Hawaii, Hawaii will be the established center of excellence in the Pacific and a global leader in clean energy and hydrogen production.

District 14, East & North Kauai

OTHER ARTICLES IN POSITION PAPERS SECTION

Bottle Bill
Land Banking
Renewable Energy
Gasoline Pricing
Hydrogen
State Parks Funding
Education