Hawai`i Awarded National Clean Energy Grant

The funds will be used by the State to analyze the costs and benefits of electric vehicles as well as the infrastructure needed to support their large-scale use in Hawai‘i.

Hawai`i is one of 12 states to receive a grant through the Clean Energy States Grants Program, which is part of the NGA's Securing a Clean Energy Future initiative.  The grants are awarded to states to help overcome obstacles to achieving greater energy efficiency and conservation, and to foster the use of clean energy resources.  Grant assistance will go towards research, analysis, meetings, training, outreach or other efforts necessary to develop and advance clean energy efforts by the states.

"An important component of securing our economic future requires that we develop a variety of innovative solutions to reduce our overdependence on imported fuel," said Governor Lingle. "This grant will help Hawai`i build the foundation needed to transition to electric vehicles and help reduce the need for expensive gasoline.  We appreciate NGA's recognition of Hawai`i as a leader in clean energy development."

The grant supports the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between the State and the U.S. Department of Energy to have 70 percent of the state's energy come from clean, renewable energy sources - such as wind, sun, ocean, geothermal and bioenergy – to supply 70 percent or more of Hawai`i's energy needs by 2030.

During a ceremony to announce a wind energy technology project on Maui earlier this year, Dan Arvizu, director of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory praised the progress that has been made by the Lingle-Aiona Administration.

"This state can lead the nation in developing how one goes about doing dramatic changes in the energy system to get to levels of renewable energy adoption that are only a dream in other parts of the country," he said.

Twenty-six states competed for the grants, which are made possible by support from American Electric Power, Dominion Resources, The Ford Motor Company, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the NGA Center for Best Practices.  Additional funding from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation will help support a technical assistance workshop for the states to be held in Washington, D.C. this fall.

• Read more from the National Governors Association.
• Read an article in the Wall Street Journal, highlighting the Lingle-Aiona Administration's progress in achieving energy independence.