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A new Clean Energy Scenario Planning ("CESP") process is under development.
Click here to learn more about CESP.
Charting a Course Towards the Big Island’s Preferred Energy Future
A steadily growing population along with relatively low real estate costs have fueled a construction and real estate boom on the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) which has contributed to an increasing demand for electric power on the island, especially on the west side.
Meeting the existing and growing demand, never easy on a sparsely settled island the size of the state of Connecticut, is a challenge facing Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) and the Big Island community.
One way the Big Island is meeting this challenge is through the use of renewable energy. HELCO is a world leader for a stand-alone utility in the diversity and amount of renewable energy resources used to generate electricity. The island leads the State of Hawaii in the use of renewable energy with over 30.9% of its energy use supplied by renewable energy resources in 2007. This percentage is one of the highest in the nation. These renewable resources include:
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Geothermal Energy -- from an active volcano,
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Wind Energy -- capturing the abundant prevailing trade winds,
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Solar Water Heating -- HELCO's program is one of the most successful in the nation,
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Run-of-the-River Hydro Energy -- from the abundant rainfall received along the lush Hamakua Coast, and
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Solar Electric Energy -- from the abundant year-round sunlight.
In addition to renewable energy resources, the electricity demand is met by energy conservation and energy efficiency programs, load management, distributed generation such as combined-heat-and-power technology, as well as traditional oil-fired generation plants.
With such a diverse mix of energy resources, how do we ensure that the Big Island's energy needs will be met with continuing diversity, reliability and affordability for the years to come? It is not a matter of “either/or”. The answer is by selecting appropriate energy choices or mix of choices from an array of solutions.
How do we find the right mix? We use a process called Integrated Resource Planning (IRP). The State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) established IRP for utilities to forecast energy demand and analyze the ways to meet it.
In IRP, an advisory group representing business, government, energy generators, consumers, environmentalists, and other stakeholders works closely with HELCO planners and engineers. They consider population growth, culture, lifestyle, the economy, environment, available energy technology, and other factors.
Together, we’ll consider the need for energy in the long-term and the optimal mix of resources now and into the future to meet our electricity needs safely, reliably – and at reasonable cost.
Visit the following links to learn more about our IRP process.
For any comments or questions, please send email to info@helcoirp.com
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