Hawaiʻi Energy Conference explores solutions for state’s energy future, May 21-22 at the MACC

The 12th Annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference will convene leaders in Maui later this month to offer solutions addressing the most pressing energy challenges of today.

With a theme of “Offering Solutions” the conference presented by the Maui Economic Development Board, with support from the County of Maui, will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center from May 21-22.

Gov. Josh Green will deliver the opening keynote, sharing his vision for Hawaiʻi’s energy future and spotlighting the state’s leadership in the clean energy transition. The program features ten dynamic panels, one deep dive session, featured presentations and ample time for networking with breaks and an exhibit venue.

One of the most anticipated panels is “Why Not Nuclear,” which will explore nuclear energy’s hypothetical role in Hawaiʻi’s energy mix. Michael Colón, director of the energy sector at Ulupono Initiative, will moderate a discussion with Marcus Nichol of the Nuclear Energy Institute; Madison Schroder of Generation Atomic; and Jack Shriver of POWER Engineers.

“Our panel will explore the hypothetical role of nuclear energy in Hawaiʻi’s transition to a sustainable energy future,” Colón said.

Colón stressed that the panel was not to be construed as an endorsement or advocacy for nuclear energy. “We are not selling nuclear,” he said. “We acknowledge the current legal prohibitions on nuclear power in Hawaiʻi as well as the considerable concerns surrounding the technology. Our panel aims to foster an open dialogue about the state’s energy future, considering how advancements in nuclear technology might align with Hawaiʻi’s environmental values and energy needs. By examining case studies and regulatory frameworks from other regions, we hope to inform discussions on broader energy policy considerations for the state.”

Another panel, “Power and Fire: How Utilities Are Confronting the Growing Wildfire Threat,” will discuss how utilities are responding to wildfire risks. Jonathan Koehn, chief sustainability and resilience officer for the City of Boulder, will moderate the panel, featuring Mathew McNeff of Hawaiian Electric; Brad Rockwell of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative; and Caroline Thomas Jacobs of California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety.

“Wildfire risk is no longer a seasonal concern—it’s a year-round, system-wide challenge,” Koehn said. “In this panel, we’ll dig into how utilities are rising to meet that challenge with innovative technologies, regulatory strategies and on-the-ground experience. I’m looking forward to a candid conversation with leaders from Hawaiʻi and California about what’s working, what’s evolving and what’s at stake.”

Other panel topics include the following:

Repowering & Resilience – Hawaiʻi’s first-in-the-nation 100% Renewable Portfolio Standard and ambitious climate goals from Act 238 are dependent on a reliable electrical grid and a push by the State to make energy more affordable. What are the gaps and how should we prioritize next steps to meet these policy objectives?

Community Energy Priorities – A catch up on recent events and projects, and discussion on lessons learned to date about community priorities for energy.

Utility Scale Solar – From tariffs to supply chain to credit risks, how can large PV projects find solutions to unexpected challenges and stay on track?

Unlocking the Value of Grid Service and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) – Customer-sited distributed energy resources (DERs) are transforming the grid by providing essential services that enhance reliability, resilience and affordability. This panel will explore how grid services and VPPs have been successfully implemented in leading jurisdictions, including Hawaiʻi’s Battery Bonus program, Massachusetts’ Connected Solutions and Puerto Rico’s emerging VPP initiatives.

Unlocking Capital for Infrastructure with Usage-Based Funding – Hawaiʻi’s essential infrastructure is the foundation of economic growth, social well-being and environmental sustainability. These critical assets, from energy and water systems to transportation and housing, are vital to meeting the state’s evolving needs. However, limited access to capital has delayed maintenance, slowed expansion and hindered progress – putting essential infrastructure at risk.

Energy Efficiency – With average monthly electricity use already lower than most States, what are the best remaining areas to reduce electricity use?

Powering the Future – Battery Storage, Safety & Building A Strong Workforce – Licensing requirements for PV work with batteries are already in place in many areas. What are these requirements and are they fair to PV installers? What programs are in place in Hawaiʻi to train safe battery installation?

Updates on Local PV Industry – The latest news on the new Bring-Your-Own-Device rule from the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission

Attendees will also be able to hear local perspective on energy with featured presentations from Carmen Hulu Lindsey, Maui Trustee with Office of Hawaiian Affairs and from Makai Freitas, Commissioner of Department of Hawaiian Homelands.

Deep Dive Session

This year the conference introduces a deep dive session that runs concurrently with the main stage discussions. In an intimate setting for up to 40 participants exploring Time of Use (TOU) rates, the session will be facilitated by Dr. Ahmad Faruqui, Economist-at-Large; Jeremy Kwock, Manager of Pricing, Hawaiian Electric and Jennifer Potter, Faculty Energy Specialist, Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute.

Dr. Ahmad Faruqui is an energy economist with 45 years of experience on a wide range of energy issues involving the customer. He has published more than a hundred papers and books on electricity pricing, load flexibility, demand forecasting and distributed energy resources and has testified before regulatory bodies, government agencies and legislative bodies. Faruqi and Potter will open Day 2 of the conference with a presentation to the larger audience on the outcomes of the deep dive session.

Organizers say the event attracts a diverse mix of renewable energy professionals, contractors, policymakers, regulators, entrepreneurs and sustainability advocates.

Advance registration offering savings ends May 13, and starts at $395 for one-day registration and $695 for both days.

Sponsors for this year’s conference include Ulupono Initiative, HNEI, Moss & Associates, Hawaiʻi Energy/Leidos, Hawaiian Electric, IBEW Local Union 1186, Island Energy Services, Johnson Controls, Par Hawaiʻi, TerraForm Power, Aeroseal, AES Hawaiʻi, Ameresco, Bitzer, Generac, Hawaiʻi Gas, Kuaui Island Utility Cooperative, NovaTech Automation, Pacific Panel Cleaners, POWER Engineers, RevoluSun and Trio Energy Alliance.