| Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company on the Big Island are embarked on an exciting journey that will change how we think about electricity and ground transportation. We have all come to realize that Hawaii needs to move from a nearly total dependence on imported fossil fuels – mostly oil – for our energy needs. There are many compelling reasons to do this: * Crude oil is limited and is becoming increasingly harder to find and more costly to bring to market. When oil hit $147 a barrel in 2008, it had devastating effects on Hawaii’s economy. * Most crude oil used in Hawaii is imported from foreign countries. * Importing so much oil – about 90 percent of our total energy needs – to an isolated location such as Hawaii means that shipping delays or interruption could cause an energy shortage. | 
* Burning fossil fuels results in the release of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, that are linked to global climate change, and other emissions. As an island state particularly vulnerable to climate change, we must do all we can to reduce emissions, especially greenhouse gas emissions. To be in control of our energy future, we must move away from near-total dependence on imported crude oil by using energy wisely and increasing production of energy from clean, local, and renewable resources. Every barrel of crude oil imported into Hawaii is used as follows: about one third for ground transportation (gasoline and diesel); one third for air transportation (jet fuel); and one third to generate electricity. If we want to reduce our use of oil for electricity, we need to also reduce our use of gasoline for ground transportation. | On October 20, 2008, the Hawaiian Electric Companies and the State of Hawaii signed an energy agreement as part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI). As a roadmap for greater energy independence, the HCEI goal is to get 70 percent of Hawaii’s energy needs from clean sources (30 percent from energy efficiency and 40 percent from renewables) by 2030. That goal is now state law. One of HCEI’s commitments is to “identify and implement those incentives needed to encourage adoption of electric vehicles for individual and fleet use, and also lead by example by acquiring hybrid or electric-only vehicles for government and utility fleets.”1 In addition, Hawaiian Electric Company has joined with major mainland utilities in a pledge to work to bring electric vehicles to widespread use in our country. Understanding the benefits of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Hawaii falls under this commitment. 1State of Hawai'i, Executive Chambers, News Release: State and Hawaiian Electric Strike Sweeping Agreement for Hawai'i’s Energy Future, October 20, 2008 |
