Our Future
A Clean Energy Future
Hawaii is at a pivotal point on our pathway to a clean energy future. We now have the capability to produce our own renewable fuels for airlines and for electric utilities to reduce our state’s overall carbon intensity.
Renewable fuel costs more to produce than traditional, petroleum-based fuels. To continue Hawaii’s positive momentum, Hawaii should model other states by adopting state-level incentives and subsidies that can be combined with federal incentives to make progress toward industry policy targets already in place.
Hawaii has the science, technology infrastructure, and expertise to produce or import renewable fuels. The final missing link are incentives to reduce costs and ensure renewable fuels are affordable for businesses and consumers. Hawaii already has modest incentives in place, such as tax credits for the production of renewable fuels, but a significant increase is required to meet the anticipated demand.
As a state, we must come together to discuss our energy future and explore all options and combinations of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support Hawaii’s vital industry sectors such as air transportation.
A Clean Energy Future
Hawaiʻi is at a pivotal point on our pathway to a clean energy future. We now have the capability to produce our own renewable fuels for airlines and for electric utilities to reduce our state’s overall carbon intensity.
Renewable fuel costs more to produce than traditional, petroleum-based fuels. To continue Hawaiʻi’s positive momentum, Hawaiʻi should model other states by adopting state-level incentives and subsidies that can be combined with federal incentives to make progress toward industry policy targets already in place.
Hawaiʻi has the science, technology infrastructure, and expertise to produce or import renewable fuels. The final missing link are incentives to reduce costs and ensure renewable fuels are affordable for businesses and consumers. Hawaiʻi already has modest incentives in place, such as tax credits for the production of renewable fuels, but a significant increase is required to meet the anticipated demand.
As a state, we must come together to discuss our energy future and explore all options and combinations of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support Hawaiʻi’s vital industry sectors such as air transportation.
Current Policy Landscape
State Government Policy
HAWAIʻI WAS THE FIRST STATE TO ENACT
100%
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
By the year 2045 for utility fuel
Hawaiʻi was the first state to enact a 100% renewable portfolio standards (RPS) by the year 2045 for utility fuel. The ultimate goal is to mitigate the impacts of climate change by transitioning to a multi-sector decarbonized economy.
In 2008, the Hawaiʻi Clean Energy Initiative set a target of 100% clean energy by 2045. In 2018, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature passed HB 2182 which set an ambitious policy for Hawaiʻi to be net zero in GHG emissions by 2045. Hawaiʻi became the first state in the nation to send a clear message to the world to secure their energy future and climate health. Additionally, Hawaiʻi, as part of the United States Climate Alliance, joined leaders from every other country on earth and committed to upholding the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Federal Government and Airline Industry Targets
3 Billion
Annual Gallons of SAF by 2030
Recognizing that emerging propulsion technologies such as battery-electric and hydrogen powered airplanes will take time to develop for short distances, and will not be viable at all for long distances, the federal government has focused on sustainable aviation fuel as the solution for the aviation industry to reach these targets.
Reduce cost, enhance sustainability, and expand production to achieve 3 billion gallons per year by 2030 of domestic sustainable aviation fuel production that achieve a minimum of a 50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) compared to conventional fuel, and 35 billion gallons, or 100% of jet fuel use, by 2050.