Table of Contents

I.   INTRODUCTION

II.  BACKGROUND

III. FORUM PROCESS

IV.  PARTICIPANT SURVEY

V.   ACTION PLAN

VI.  SUMMARY

VII. ADDENDUM A--FORUM AGENDAS*

VIII. ADDENDUM B--PARTICIPANTS*

IX.  ADDENDUM C--SURVEY RESULTS*

X.   ADDENDUM D--HANDOUTS & FLYERS*

*[available upon request]

INTRODUCTION

The Na Makani Energy Initiative, a County funded series of community energy planning forums, held three roundtables on July 1, September 16, and November 18, 1997. Each of the forums focused, respectively, on one of three main areas: 1) energy efficiency and conservation; 2) renewable energy strategies; and 3) action planning. A diverse group of energy experts and community advocates convened on those occasions to discuss options for future energy development in North Kohala. This project, sponsored by Plan to Protect, Inc., a non-profit organization for resource sustainability, was intended to introduce and formalize a community based planning process upon which to build consensus and ongoing community participation. The current report is prepared for the Hawaii County Department of Research and Development, which funded the project.

BACKGROUND

As a result of the North Kohala community's clearly expressed preference to avoid polluting technologies of energy production and to pursue long-term, sustainable solutions to its energy needs into the 21st century, an effort was initiated to engage in a true community based energy planning process. Community members had previously demonstrated a keen intention to pursue community self-determination in these matters.

Following on the unanimous passage, on June 19, 1996, of Hawaii County Council Resolution 317-96--the so-called `North Kohala Power Resolution' (excerpts below), a group of community advocates applied for and received a grant from the Hawaii County Research and Development Department. This small grant provided an essential next step toward implementing the intent of the Resolution by affording the community the opportunity to explore, in the form of an "energy round table", the full range of practical development options.

Excerpts from Hawaii County Council Resolution--317-96:

   Now, therefore be it resolved by the Council of the County of Hawaii that it joins with the citizens of North Kohala to formally request the Hawaii State Legislature and the Governor to actively support an immediate full scale energy conservation education effort, followed by the thoughtful development of appropriate renewable, non-polluting and sustainable energy sources, such as solar, wind and other proven, cost-effective alternative energy technologies, as part of a collective, integrated strategy for a "soft energy path" into the 21st century, in a community-based collaboration with governmental agencies, the local utility and independent power producers.
   Be it further resolved that the Council supports the creation of a forum to address the above mentioned energy issues and that such a round table discussion would be held in North Kohala, although not limited to issues facing the North Kohala community with regards to alternative energy development.

FORUM PROCESS

An operational steering committee composed of community members was responsible for the planning and implementation of the forum series. This steering committee developed a budget, established procedural format and guidelines, selected participants, and set the schedule and agendas for the three forums (see Addendums A and B). The committee was also responsible for community and media notification of upcoming events (see Addendum D), and live (and weekly repeated tape delay) local public access cable television broadcasts of all of the forums.

The selected format for each of the forums was a moderated presentation and discussion process. Opportunity for community input was provided for by the inclusion of a question and answer session, including on site call-in phone access for home viewers. Each of the three forums was two hours in length.

PARTICIPANT SURVEY

During the third forum, which was focused on developing an action plan, the attendees were asked to participate in a survey intended to elucidate trends regarding future energy development in North Kohala. The procedure used was a modified `delphi technique', which is deemed reliable when the sample is both qualified and broad. The participants met those specifications.

The collective trends were subsequently summarized in a graphic overview to establish general guidelines for the plan under development for North Kohala (see Addendum C). The trends elaborated through this process are projected to be pertinent for all outlying bioregions in the state of Hawaii, with utilization patterns contingent upon resource availability at specific locations.

It is clear that regional power preferences, as determined by this survey, will be moving from completely centralized sources to completely independent sources within the first fifteen years of the next century. The interim phase will manifest customers who are currently "on the grid", but who are progressively adding to their independence with an array of new, locally purchased technology. They are referred to as "on/off grid" customers. Over the long range, "micro technology" is anticipated that will fully establish the independent, "off grid" customer. Ideally, during the interim, independent power producers will initiate a regional interest in solar, wind and hydro power, likely in that order.

In the short range, restrictive legislation and the community's lack of education about alternatives are the two greatest challenges. Local initiatives for education could include solar workshops, free energy audits, a legislative information service, and the introduction of scale model solutions for display at local gathering places.

ACTION PLAN

A review of the transcripts of the three forums, revealed a number of possible actions within specific areas of influence. Each of these actions is seen as a potential component to the masterplan for energy development in North Kohala. As more of these actions are undertaken, the community will become more energy self-sufficient, with the ultimate goal of realizing energy independence and sustainability.

Utility Management Recommendations:

• ACTION: HELCO has agreed to monitor total electrical demand for North Kohala. This will provide a baseline from which to benchmark future changes in energy demand from the grid.

• ACTION: HELCO has agreed to institute a small trial of "time of use" electrical rates (test program with 50 homes). Na Makani proposes to evaluate community interest in this idea during Phase II of the project.

Legislative Action Recommendations:

• ACTION: The State legislature should extend the solar and renewable energy income tax credits. This is the single most important action that the legislature can do to support renewable energy development. This action is known to be a net benefit to the State's economy.

• ACTION: The State legislature should pass a true "net metering" bill. This would allow excess electricity generated from renewable sources to be "traded" for electricity generated by utilities at times when renewables are unavailable. This would allow optimum sizing of grid inter-tied renewable sources.

• ACTION: The State legislature should require that the Department of Health's Clean Air Fund be utilized to implement cost-effective energy-efficiency and renewable energy development (such as solar water heaters, energy-efficient lighting in State facilities, etc.) that will defer the need for new fossil fuel generating capacity.

• ACTION: The State legislature should empower the counties to provide property tax-exemptions for renewable energy facilities. Property taxes on the value of renewable energy facilities are an additional cost that renewable energy facilities must bear. (HELCO's fossil fuel fired facilities are tax-exempt.)

• ACTION: Hawaii County Government should enact the Hawaii Residential Model Energy Code.

• ACTION: Hawaii County Government should enact diversion credits that represent the real costs of landfilling green wastes. These diversion credits could be utilized by renewable energy developers to supplement revenues from energy sales. These revenues can substantially improve the economics of renewable energy projects.

• ACTION: Build alliances and communicate recommendations regarding this agenda to State and County lawmakers.

PUC Competition Docket Recommendations:

• ACTION: Allow wholesale and retail wheeling to permit direct service between renewable energy facilities and customers. Provide renewable energy developers with reasonable terms and conditions regarding access, access charges, etc. Independent power producers should be allowed to transmit and distribute renewable energy to consumers who are willing to pay the price.

• ACTION: Allow competition for operation and/or ownership of all or parts of the electric grid by community non-profits or for-profit enterprises. Perhaps a resource rich community such as North Kohala could provide power cheaper by a community owned or operated utility grid. If rules permitted, a business plan might show that the whole North Kohala portion of the grid could be operated from energy sources indigenous to the district while providing a wider range of customer choice about sources of power, as well as lower prices. This would also provide a better business climate for emerging companies and technologies.

• ACTION: Allow on site electrical generation by underground gas pipelines. Customers could be provided gas by independent power producers through underground gas lines which run fuel cells located on the customer's property. Would this be allowed under present or future rules? The gas could be made from renewable sources, integrating "waste" management into the operation. Thus customers would have a wider variety of choices about, and perhaps lower prices for, their electricity.

• ACTION: Allow developers and/or owner power co-ops to provide power to individual residences within new developments. This puts less demand on the grid, whose present owners are planning new oil-fired sources to meet future demands. And it provides niche markets for village scale integrated renewable systems, which may be cost-effective today. Integrating waste-management, agricultural production, and power production within a development as a way to create all power on site and export no wastes is a goal of forward-thinking land developers. Real estate developers can then offer their potential customers greater choice in how their electricity is made as well as in what kinds of building materials and resource-efficient designs are employed in a project. Innovation in development, housing, and energy utilization would emerge.

• ACTION: Allow communities to vote to have a choice of power providers based on better service, e.g. underground lines, lower prices, better reliability, renewable energy sources, etc.

• ACTION: Build alliances and communicate these recommendations to the PUC and Consumer Advocate.

Community Outreach:

• ACTION: Put "energy action plan" on-line (www.kohala.org; Maui-Tomorrow; www.kohala.net; ISF website). [No Expense]

• ACTION: Write articles about this Action Plan for Ka`u Landing, West Hawaii Today, Kohala Mountain News, and other publications. [No Expense]

• ACTION: Evaluate community interest and need for the following action items, probably through the use of a bulk mailing to the entire community, including a residential energy questionnaire for return to Na Makani. [Utilize County Phase II funds to implement this action.]

• ACTION: Provide free residential and commercial energy surveys. Kohala Research shows that 42.5% of Kohala residents (1990 census: population = 4,800; 3.2/house = 1,500 households X .425 = 637.5 households) want these surveys. At $25 per survey, this is $15,750. [Fund this action through a grant from CBED or other appropriate funding source.]

• PROPOSED ACTION: Make available a residential efficiency package, including water heater jacket; compact fluorescent lamps; high-efficiency showerheads; faucet aerators; hot water pipe insulation; electric water heater timers; on-demand water heaters. [Fund this action by combining HELCO's residential efficiency program with money from users to help pay for components.]

• PROPOSED ACTION: Make available a residential solar (solar hot water and photovoltaic) package, including collectors, tanks, and other hardware.

• ACTION: Evaluate each component. Where do we obtain items, how much do each of these measures cost, and what are their life-cycle costs or other profitability measures? [Fund evaluation of components with County Phase II funds.]

• ACTION: Evaluate most reasonable ideas and hardware. [Fund evaluation of options with County Phase II funds.]
  • Bulk installation of HELCO systems.

  • Bulk buy of only collector and/or tank or pre-heater. (Combine with a workshop or other means to get systems installed.)

  • Bulk buy of Solar Development, Inc.'s low-income solar water heater systems.

• ACTION: Evaluate "solar workshop" options for building and/or installing low-cost solar systems. Examples follow. [Fund evaluation of options with County Phase II funds.]
  • Crystal City, Texas--$85 collectors.

  • North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation--$60 window box collectors and $300 solar water heaters.

  • Colton, California--youth build and install solar equipment. (Kohala Intergenerational Center?)

  • DBEDT's "Do It Yourself Water Heater Construction and Installation Program"

Rebuild America Program:

• ACTION: Become a partner in this Department of Energy program (through `Rebuild Hawaii Island' partnership with Hawaii County and HELCO). The community can access information on energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services, case studies and peer exchange, technical assistance, sustainable development program assistance, and financing options. DOE also provides assistance brokering projects. The community would gain credibility for funding and other purposes. Na Makani will prepare a separate Action Plan for participation in this program.

Green Enertopia:

• ACTION: Become a partner in this program, whose purpose includes the establishment of national centers for enhancing public education, expanding technology transfer, and developing incentives for clean energy systems. The community would gain both technical assistance and credibility for funding and other purposes.

Entrepreneurial Opportunities:

• ACTION: Pursue these as part of the community's broader interests, and funding and technical assistance requests.

SUMMARY

The Na Makani Energy Initiative project proposed to provide a vehicle for the community to envision and articulate its preferred energy future, and to develop a preliminary action plan as a cornerstone for energy self-sufficiency for the community of North Kohala. The project was timely and important because it provided an impetus for long range sustainable energy planning and development on the Island of Hawaii. Viable planning strategies derived from this project can now be shared with other communities, enabling them to make informed choices suitable for their prevailing conditions and in alignment with their intended purposes. The final true measure of success for this project lies in the degree to which these communities can engage themselves in this process and self-determine their future on the "soft energy path".