Deciding Molokai’s Energy Future

Sust’aina ble Molokai News Release

Are you interested in learning about clean energy solutions designed by and for the Molokai community? If so, please join us with your ʻohana on Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the third Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (Molokai CERAP) meeting via Zoom. Join us for a Molokai ‘ohana style meeting — community-led, pilina focused, culturally centered — to share your manaʻo on what Molokaiʻs energy future should look like.

Today, Molokai electricity remains dependent on burning thousands of gallons of expensive and environmentally damaging fossil fuels a day. 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. MCEH is facilitating the development of the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan. The vision of the Molokai CERAP is to develop a portfolio of clean energy projects to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for Molokai that is feasible, respectful of Molokai’s culture and environment, and strongly supported by the community through an island-wide planning process that is community-initiated, driven and led.

In short, the Molokai CERAP provides the opportunity to co-design Molokai’s renewable energy future. The plan’s success is dependent on community participation! Attending our next MCEH community meeting is the best way to get involved early!

On Jan. 19, we will discuss the results of our first energy survey on what Molokai needs to know about our energy ecosystem. We will share highlights from our Nov. 17 community meeting and ask you for input about what kind of future you envision for Molokai and how energy can help support that future.

Please plan to attend this meeting because renewable energy affects your ʻohana’s future! Donʻt forget to join the “Molokai Renewable Energy” Facebook group for updates. The meeting link, agenda and social media information can be found at linktr.ee/MolokaiCleanEnergyHui. 

The Molokai Clean Energy Hui is an independent community-led group committed to helping Molokai become the resilient, clean energy community we all want to live in. Launched and facilitated by Sust‘aina ble Molokai, which also runs the popular Hui Up appliance exchange program, MCEH helps our community understand and engage effectively with renewable energy projects, planning, and policy. The Hui also provides early input on potential energy proposals to advocate for concerns regarding the impacts and benefits to Molokai.