Hawaii Task Force to Assess Impacts of Tesoro Closure

By Wendy Osher

Governor Neil Abercrombie today established by executive order a Hawaii Refinery Task Force to assess the impacts of Tesoro’s announcement to close its Hawaii refinery.

“I am tasking this group to investigate the impacts of Tesoro’s impending closure on Hawaii’s fuel supply and economy to ensure a reliable and competitive fuels market,” said Gov. Abercrombie, who had vowed to establish the task force during his 2013 State of the State address.

“The purpose of the task force is to identify strategies and actions that the state should consider to promote a smooth and stable transition to meet Hawaii’s energy needs as our fuels market evolves,” said Richard Lim, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, who will lead the task force. “It is essential that we begin the process of planning for a future fuels ecosystem that best serves our state.”

The task force will be comprised of 29 members from the public and private sectors, and will be charged with presenting short-term findings and recommendations to the governor within 60 days of a refinery closure.

The task force must also submit an interim and final written report of its activities and recommendations to the governor by Sept. 30, 2013, and the final day of the 2014 legislative session, respectively.