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Energy

Residents Get Renewable Energy Certification

Wednesday, June 15th, 2022

Residents Get Renewable Energy Certification

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Locally-run Ho’ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai held an inaugural Clean Energy Technician Training this spring, with 14 Molokai residents graduating with certification. The five-week course covered an introduction to photovoltaic energy, with a 40 hours of hands on build time during which students received on-site experience and skills building nanogrids, or small scale solar systems. 

“The state has a goal to transition to 100 percent renewables by 2045 and Molokai still has almost the entire way to go,” said Todd Yamashita, board president of Ho’ahu Energy Coop and instructor for the course. “What we’re doing here is helping ourselves and getting ready for this transition so that it will be our Molokai people who will benefit from these jobs.…

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Free Energy-Savings Kit

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Molokai residents are invited to pick up a free kit containing energy-saving items to help reduce energy use at home on Wednesday, May 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the drive-through locations on the island. The events will be held at Kaunakakai, Maunaloa and Kilohana elementary schools. 

Hosted by Hawaiian Electric in partnership with Hawaii Energy and the County of Maui Department of Water, the drive-through events will be distributing one kit per vehicle, first come-first served and while supplies last.

The kits include energy-saving light bulbs, water-saving faucet aerators and other items to help residents reduce energy use and manage their energy bills.…

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Ho’ahu Energy Coop Gets Federal Support

Thursday, March 31st, 2022

Sen. Schatz News Release

Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a local group developing Molokai’s first community-owned renewable energy resource project, will receive federal support, including technical assistance, from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

“This kind of hands-on federal support will help us expand clean energy production on Molokai as the community moves to take its energy future into its own hands. That means more jobs, more reliable energy, and cheaper electric bills for Molokai residents,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai will receive tailored expert support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a DOE National Lab, to address the island’s unique energy challenges. During this first phase of the initiative, Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai will receive one-on-one assistance from PNNL, including training, energy and economic analysis, workforce and equity assessments, and grant application assistance.…

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Molokai Hit Hard with Rising Cost of Fuel

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Molokai Hit Hard with Rising Cost of Fuel

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As drivers gasp at the gas prices skyrocketing recently, rising fuel costs around the globe will soon drive the cost of living for Molokai residents even higher, and officials are urging consumers to find ways to save. Hawaiian Electric just warned of a 25 percent increase for Molokai customers in upcoming electric bills from a jump in fuel prices, and changes to the global oil market will affect everything from food costs to airfares to monthly utility charges. 

Last week at the gas pumps, residents saw an overnight jump from $5.63 to $5.78, coming after recent weeks of frequent increases.…

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Understanding Molokai’s Electric Grid

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

Community Contributed

By Kahenawai Hirata, Sust’ainable Molokai Intern 

According to Hawaiian Electric this month, 86 percent of Molokai homes and businesses are powered by the diesel powered generators at Palaʻau, and the other 14 percent of our energy needs are met by the 500 rooftop solar systems on the island.

This and other information was discussed on Feb. 16 at the first energy briefing held via Zoom by the Molokai Clean Energy Hui (MCEH), in partnership with the Molokai community, Sust’ainable Molokai and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI). This briefing is part of the community education and input phase of the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (Molokai CERAP).…

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Hawaiian Electric Goal: 70% Carbon Reduction by 2030

Wednesday, November 17th, 2021

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Stressing the urgency of the global effort to slow climate change, Hawaiian Electric has set a goal to cut carbon emissions from power generation 70 percent by 2030. 

Cutting emissions from power generation by 70 percent, compared with 2005 levels, would provide a significant portion of the reduction the entire Hawaii economy needs to meet the U.S. target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 50 percent economy wide by 2030. The reduction includes generation owned by Hawaiian Electric and independent power producers who sell electricity to the utility. 

Hawaiian Electric has also committed to achieving net zero or net negative carbon emissions from power generation by 2045 or sooner, meaning that if there are any emissions, they will be captured or offset. …

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Energy Coop Gets Support for $7.5M Loan

Thursday, November 11th, 2021

Ho’ahu Energy Coop News Release

Ho’ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a local group formed to build community-owned energy projects for community benefits, received initial support for a state loan of $7.5 million to fund a 2.75 megawatt solar and battery storage project the Coop is proposing on Molokai. 

The board of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA) met virtually on Oct. 27 to hear the proposal from Hoʻahu President Todd Yamashita and co-development partner, Ali Andrews of Shake Energy Collaborative. At that meeting, the board voted to set aside $7.5 million from their Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) Program for Hoʻahu’s Community-based Renewable Energy (CBRE) solar and battery storage project.…

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Co-Design Molokai’s Renewable Energy Future

Thursday, November 11th, 2021

Co-Design Molokai’s Renewable Energy Future

Sustʻainable Molokai News Release

Are you interested in learning about clean energy solutions designed by and for the Molokai community? If so, join the Molokai Clean Energy Hui (MCEH) next Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. for a community meeting on the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (Molokai CERAP).

Today, Molokai electricity remains dependent on expensive and environmentally damaging fossil fuels. While Molokai residents are the lowest electrical consumers in Hawaii, Molokai continues to have the highest electrical costs in the country. Fortunately, there is a way for you, the community, to steer what types of technology and energy storage options we would like to see on Molokai. …

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Help Design Molokai’s Next Energy Project

Wednesday, October 27th, 2021

HECM News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a local group formed to support community-owned energy projects, invites you to join us for our next virtual workshop on Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The workshop continues Hoʻahu’s work to design solar and battery storage projects for Maui Electric’s upcoming Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) Request for Proposals (RFP).

This Saturday, we will focus on discussing how best to make sure that low-income residents have the opportunity to save money on their electricity bill by participating in Hoʻahuʻs CBRE project. 

This meeting will be held over Zoom and is open to all who would like to listen and participate.…

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$950K for Na’iwa Subdivision

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Improvements to the Na’iwa Subdivision on Molokai Hawaiian Home Lands are moving forward with the release of an additional $950,000 in capital improvement funds, Sen. Lynn DeCoite announced last week. The funds are allocated for design and engineering services for roadway access, water and electrical service for the subdivision area. 

After years of waiting, the Na’iwa agricultural subdivision in Ho’olehua near the airport, which encompasses 341 acres and 58 lots, is getting infrastructure improvements including access roads, driveways, electrical connections and potable and irrigation water lines. Site inspections and field work for the improvements began in February and March.…

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