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Hawaii: a renewable energy and energy efficiency powerhouse

From photovoltaic panels that line rooftops and big wind projects that feed energy into the electric grid to multimillion-dollar investments in converting feedstocks such as algae into biofuel, industry insiders say Hawaii has come into its own as a national hotbed for alternative energy.

Hawaii’s clean energy outlook: sunny – Sustainable Business Oregon, 3 Jan 2011, ENERGY – OUTLOOK SUNNY: I n 2010, roughly $1 billion was spent in the clean-energy sector, which includes public and private investment in renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies, according to data culled by the state energy office. The figure marks a 62 percent increase from 2009. In 2011, expenditures are expected to increase another 26 percent to $1.25 billion.

From photovoltaic panels that line rooftops and big wind projects that feed energy into the electric grid to multimillion-dollar investments in converting feedstocks such as algae into biofuel, industry insiders say Hawaii has come into its own as a national hotbed for alternative energy.

And this is just the short list of technologies gaining momentum within the state’s energy sector. Geothermal energy, solar hot water heating, electric and hydrogen vehicles, biodiesel, building retrofits that reduce energy usage, off-grid wind turbines that power homes and acres of grid-tied solar thermal energy also are expected to drive growth through 2011.

This industry expects next year to be better than 2010. Sales will increase. Expansions are planned.Hawaii’s clean-energy sector mushroomed in 2010, and industry observers and insiders are anticipating another record year for 2011.”We’ve created a new sector,” said Ted Peck, the state’s energy administrator. “Renewable energy will be a driver of Hawaii’s economy at least for the next decade.
n 2010, roughly $1 billion was spent in the clean-energy sector, which includes public and private investment in renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies, according to data culled by the state energy office. The figure marks a 62 percent increase from 2009. In 2011, expenditures are expected to increase another 26 percent to $1.25 billion.From photovoltaic panels that line rooftops and big wind projects that feed energy into the electric grid to multimillion-dollar investments in converting feedstocks such as algae into biofuel, industry insiders say Hawaii has come into its own as a national hotbed for alternative energy.

And this is just the short list of technologies gaining momentum within the state’s energy sector. Geothermal energy, solar hot water heating, electric and hydrogen vehicles, biodiesel, building retrofits that reduce energy usage, off-grid wind turbines that power homes and acres of grid-tied solar thermal energy also are expected to drive growth through 2011……

Hawaii’s clean energy outlook: sunny – Sustainable Business Oregon

January 4, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA