Maui Senators Appointed to PUC’s Energy Planning Advisory Group

Sen. J. Kalani English. Courtesy file photo.

By Sonia Isotov

The Public Utilities Commission has appointed Senators Roz Baker and J. Kalani English as members to the newly created Hawaiian Electric Companies’ Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) Advisory Group.

The advisory group was recently established by the PUC in response to the Commission’s Decision and Order on March 14, 2011 for a revised IRP Framework to govern energy resource planning by electric and gas utilities in the state of Hawai’i.

Roz Baker, file photo courtesy Senate Communications.

The goal of IRP is to develop an Acton Plan that governs how the Hawaii Electric Companies will meet energy objectives and customer energy needs consistent with state energy policies and goals, while providing safe and reliable utility services at reasonable cost, through the development of resource plans and scenarios of possible futures that provide a broader long-term perspective.

Members of the advisory group were selected to provide the Hawaiian Electric Companies with the benefit of community perspectives by participating in the utility’s IRP process and representing diverse community, environmental, social, political, or cultural interests consistent with the revised framework’s goal.

Individuals selected to be part of the group include state and county officials, and environmental, cultural, business, and community interest groups.

“It is important that we invest time into understanding alternative energy futures now, so that we as a state can make responsible and responsive decisions regarding our energy needs,” said Senator Roz Baker, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, which oversees the PUC.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with the IRP Advisory Group to help our state move forward towards a better and more sustainable future. Senator Baker represents south and west Maui.