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State and Federal Incentives and Laws

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Hawaii Energy-Based Economic Development Plans

Alternative Fuels Promotion

The state of Hawaii has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to establish the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. DOE and the state pledge to collaborate to produce 70% of the state’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. The goals of the partnership include defining the structural transformation required to transition the state to a clean energy-dominated economy; demonstrate and foster innovation in the use of clean energy, including alternative fuels; create opportunities for the widespread distribution of clean energy benefits; establish an open learning model for other states and entities to adopt; and build a workforce with cross-cutting skills to support a clean energy economy in the state. For more information about Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, see the full text of the MOU (PDF 108 KB). Download Adobe Reader

Energy Feedstock Program

The Energy Feedstock Program was established within the Department of Agriculture to promote and support the production of energy feedstock in Hawaii and establish milestones and objectives for energy feedstock to be grown in the state to meet its energy requirements. Energy feedstock includes feedstock used to produce biofuels. (Reference Hawaii Revised Statutes 141-9)

Hydrogen Energy Plan and Fund

A Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program has been established within the state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to manage the state's transition to a renewable hydrogen economy. A Hydrogen Investment Capital Special Fund has been created to provide seed capital for, and venture capital investments in, private sector and federal projects for research, development, testing, and implementation of the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program. The Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program is responsible for designing, implementing, and administering activities including:

1) Strategic partnerships for the research, development, testing, and deployment; engineering and economic evaluations;

2) Demonstration projects, including infrastructure for the production, storage, and refueling of hydrogen vehicles;

3) Statewide hydrogen economy public education and outreach plan promoting Hawaii's renewable hydrogen resources to potential partners and investors;

4) A plan, for implementation during 2007 to 2010, to deploy hydrogen technologies and infrastructure, including hydrogen production facilities, refueling stations, and vehicles;

5) A plan, for implementation during 2010 to 2020, to transition the island of Hawaii to a hydrogen-fueled economy and to extend the application of the plan throughout the state; and

6) Evaluation of policy recommendations to: encourage the adoption of hydrogen vehicles; continually fund the hydrogen investment capital special fund; and support investment in hydrogen infrastructure.

(Reference Hawaii Revised Statutes 196-10 and 211F-5.7)