>>Lara: 2045.

THAT'S THE YEAR THE STATE HAS SET TO ACHIEVE 100-PERCENT CLEAN ENERGY.

THAT MEANS CUTTING OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS LIKE OIL, GAS AND COAL, WHICH ARE NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES THAT EXPERTS SAY CAN POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT.

INSTEAD, FOCUS IS ON HARNESSING NATURE'S POWER OF THE SUN, WIND, OCEAN AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.

BUT IT'S NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THE STATE IS IN ACCOMPLISHING ITS GOAL.

TONIGHT'S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I START NOW.

∂ ∂ >>Lara: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I.

I'M LARA YAMADA.

THE STATE IS ON A MISSION TO PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS AND COMPLETELY SWITCH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY BY THE YEAR 2045.

THIS AMBITIOUS CLEAN ENERGY GOAL NEEDS COMMITMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

OVER THE YEARS, EFFORTS TO TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY HAVE BEEN RAMPING UP.

BUT SEVERAL PROJECTS IN HAWAI'I HAVE FACED OPPOSITION FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

OUR PANEL TONIGHT WILL DISCUSS WHERE THE STATE IS IN REACHING ITS GREEN ENERGY GOAL AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE CONCERNS BY RESIDENTS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

JAMES GRIFFIN IS THE CHAIR OF THE STATE OF HAWAI'I PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE PUC BY GOVERNOR IGE IN 2017.

THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE AGENCY IS TO PROTECT PUBLIC INTEREST BY OVERSEEING AND REGULATING PUBLIC UTILITIES TO ENSURE RELIABLE SERVICE AND REASONABLE RATES.

COLTON CHING IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNING AND TECHNOLOGY AT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY.

HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING HECO'S 100-PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY GRID, AS WELL AS THE PROCUREMENT OF COST-EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE AND RESILIENT RENEWABLE GENERATION.

DAVID BISSELL IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE KAUA'I ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE.

K-I-U-C OPERATES AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OWNED BY ITS MEMBERS AND GOVERNED BY AN ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THE COOPERATIVE SERVES 33,000 ELECTRIC ACCOUNTS.

AND KYLIE WAGER CRUZ IS A SENIOR ATTORNEY FOR EARTHJUSTICE, A NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ORGANIZATION.

PRIOR TO JOINING EARTHJUSTICE, SHE SERVED AS A LAW CLERK FOR THE HONORABLE MARK.

E. RECKTENWALD, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HAWAI'I SUPREME COURT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

LET'S SET THE STAGE.

LET ME START WITH YOU, JAMES.

WHAT IS THE STATE'S PROGRESS NOW TOWARDS ITS 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY GOAL?

>> I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND REPRESENT OUR COMMISSION.

AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE -- THE STATE HAS GOALS IN LAW, REQUIRING OUR ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO MEET CERTAIN RENEWABLE TARGETS BY CERTAIN DATES.

IN 2020, THAT NUMBER WAS 30%.

WE'RE AHEAD OF THAT.

BOTH DAVID'S COMPANY AND COLTON'S COMPANY.

IF WE BREAK IT DOWN, ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU, WE'RE AT 31%.

FOR MAUI COUNTY, COLLECTIVELY MAUI ELECTRIC AT 51%.

HAWAI'I ISLAND AT 43% AND DAVID'S COMPANY, KIUC AT 67%.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECTS, LARGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS ON ALL THESE ISLANDS, WE'RE SET TO MAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD.

FOR HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC, IT'S LOOKING TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

50% WITH THE CURRENT ROUND OF PROJECTS.

WITH KIUC, WITH THE PROJECTS THEY HAVE COMING ONLINE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT APPROACHING 90% IN THE NEAR TERM.

THAT'S AT AN AGGREGATE LEVEL WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.

>>Lara: BEING THAT YOU MENTIONED COLTON AND DAVID, I WANT TO GET BOTH OF YOU.

GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO CHIME IN THERE AND GIVE US YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW AND ANY OTHER NUMBERS YOU CAN SHARE.

WE'LL START WITH YOU, COLTON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

AS JAMES MENTIONED, WE DID EXCEED BY QUITE A BIT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF 30% LAST YEAR.

HITTING 35% IN TOTAL ACROSS ALL THE FIVE ISLANDS THAT WE SERVE.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT MORE AHEAD OF US.

AS JAY SAID, WITH THE PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN VARIOUS FORM OF CONSTRUCTION OR RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE PROCEEDING ON, AS WELL AS OUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE AMOUNT OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ELECTING TO INSTALL DISTRIBUTED LIMITS SYSTEMS, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE THINK WE'LL BE WELL NORTH OF 50%.

DOUBLE OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

THAT'S A HUGE LIFT THAT WE EXPECT.

A HUGE MOVE FORWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

AT THE SAME TIME, A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE FOSSIL FUEL THAT WE USE AS WELL.

>>Lara: AND DAVID, WHERE ARE YOU SITTING NOW WITH ALL OF THIS?

REALLY, KAUA'I HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HAVING KAUA'I REPRESENTED HERE AMONGST THESE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.

AND KAUA'I, KIUC, WE'VE REACHED 67% RENEWABLE.

WE HAVE THREE VERY LARGE UTILITY SCALE, SOLAR AND BATTERY SCALE PROJECTS.

WE HAVE BIOMASS, HYDROELECTRIC ALL ON THE ISLAND.

WE'RE WORKING HARD ON PUMP STORAGE HYDRO.

PUT US TO ALMOST 90% IF THAT PROJECT REACHES COMPLETION.

>>Lara: DAVID, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER BECAUSE YOU'RE ON KAUA'I?

A LITTLE BIT SMALLER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE, OR WHAT ELSE MIGHT YOU CREDIT FOR BEING ABLE TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT?

>> I REALLY CREDIT OUR COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH HAVE A DIRECT TIE TO MEMBERSHIP.

ESSENTIALLY ALL THE PEOPLE OF KAUA'I THAT BUY ELECTRICITY FROM US.

THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT IN 2008 TO REACH 50% RENEWABLE.

THEY RAISED IT UP TO 70%.

THERE'S BEEN A CONSISTENT AND LONG-TERM PUSH IN REACHING HIGH LEVELS OF RENEWABLES EVER SINCE WE'VE BEEN FORMED AS A COOPERATIVE IN 2002.

>>Lara: TO MAKE SURE I CLARIFY FOR FOLKS BECAUSE FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ON KAUA'I, THEY MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH WHAT A COOPERATIVE IS.

THAT MEANS THAT THE RESIDENTS OR -- THEY OWN A PORTION.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

EVERY PERSON AND COMPANY WHO BUYS ELECTRICITY FROM US IS A MEMBER OF THE COOPERATIVE.

AND THEY SHARE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE COOPERATIVE.

ANY EARNINGS IS CREDITED TO THE MEMBERSHIP.

WE REFUND OUR MEMBERSHIP MONEY.

WE REFUNDED OVER $30 MILLION TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

>>Lara: COLTON, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SUCCESSES DAVID HAD ON KAUA'I.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS ISLAND BY ISLAND.

EACH ISLAND HAVING TO GENERATE ITS OWN POWER.

WILL BE CONVERTING TO GREEN ENERGY BE MORE DIFFICULT?

ARE YOU FORESEEING IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR CERTAIN ISLANDS?

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH FOLKS?

>> SURE.

I THINK EVERY ISLAND HAS UNIQUE CHALLENGES AS WELL AS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES.

THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAI'I, FOR EXAMPLE, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RENEWABLE RICH ISLANDS IN THE STATE.

AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE RENEWABLE RICH LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD.

THAT RICHNESS COMES FROM HAVING A VARIETY OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES.

I THINK THE BIG ISLAND HAS AN ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THOSE OPTIONS BEFORE THEM.

BUT IT'S ALSO BIG ISLAND.

SO A LOT OF THESE RESOURCES ARE LOCATED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ISLAND.

TO TAKE IT TO CUSTOMERS LOCATED QUITE A BIT OF WAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.

SAME THING ON MAUI WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED.

VERY RENEWABLE RICH.

SMALLER ISLANDS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROGRESS FASTER AND MORE RAPIDLY.

I REALLY APPLAUD FOLKS AT KIUC AND THE ISLAND OF KAUA'I.

ON OAHU SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IS CHALLENGE OF SIZE.

WHERE 70% OF THE STATE'S USE OF ELECTRICITY IS HERE ON OAHU.

AND SO TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE AMOUNT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT WE USE, ON OAHU IT'S FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO GET THE SAME PERCENTAGE ON ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOR ISLANDS AND TEN TIMES MORE THAN WHAT'S NEEDED ON KAUA'I.

>>Lara: WE'RE GOING TO GET TO ISSUES THAT ARE SPINNING OUT OF THIS.

BUT YOU WANT TO TURN TO YOU, KYLIE.

COLTON TOUCHED ON HAWAI'I ISLAND AND WHAT THE LAYOUT IS THERE, AND WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES MAY BE.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, AND NO DOUBT A LOT OF LEGAL ARGUMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH, SAY, PUNA GEOTHERMAL VENTURE BE THERE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

TRYING TO CREATE ENERGY SOURCES THAT CREATE CONFLICTS AND LEGAL CHALLENGES.

WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS FAR AS HOW THIS IS PLAYING OUT, WHETHER IT BE ON THE BIG ISLAND OR ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT THE STATE?

>> SURE.

AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON SHOW.

I AGREE, WE'RE ON TRACK SO FAR ON PAPER IN TERMS OF MEETING OUR RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS AND INTERIM GOALS FOR CLEAN ENERGY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE LAST TEN YEARS HAVE BEEN ALL ABOUT PICKING OFF THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT.

EASIER TO DEVELOP LANDS AND EASIER TO DEVELOP ROOFTOPS.

NEXT TEN YEARS ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH.

WE NEED TO BUILD OUR ENERGY GRID FROM THE GROUND UP WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

BOTH LARGE SCALE AND SMALL SCALE ROOFTOP PROJECTS.

>>Lara: YOU RAISED THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW IT PLAYS INTO ALL THIS.

IT RAISES A LOT OF ISSUES IN SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT RIGHT NOW, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT KAPOLEI BATTERY PROJECT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT COAL FACILITY BEING CLOSED.

I KNOW THESE ARE ISSUES THAT I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU OR ALL OF YOU COULD COMMENT ON.

EVEN IF I DON'T CALL YOUR NAME, FEEL FREEZE TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY, I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.

AS FAR AS THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE ISSUES KYLIE, AND WHAT ELSE YOU'RE SEEING AS REALLY COMING TO THE FOREFRONT THAT YOU SEE IS GOING TO BE -- CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THESE RENEWABLE ENTERING GOALS.

>> RETIRING FOSSIL PLANTS IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY AND MAKE SURE THE FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS RETIRE ON TIME.

WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEWS AES COAL PLANT.

REQUIRED BY LAW TO RETIRE BY THE END OF 2022.

BECAUSE OF DELAYS AND UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS COMING ONLINE, WE'RE EXPECTING SHORTFALLS FOR THE FALL OF '22 AND '23.

EVEN THOUGH THAT SOUNDS LIKE KIND OF SCARY, WE'VE -- THE UP SIDE IS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, THANKS TO THE PUC, LOOK AT OTHER TYPES OF RESOURCES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE GRID AT SMALLER SCALES.

THE PUC RECENTLY CREATED A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY POWER TO THE GRID USING ROOFTOP SOLAR AND HOME BATTERIES.

THE IDEA IS THAT THESE SOLAR PV PANELS WILL CHARGE BATTERY THROUGH -- ENERGY THROUGH THE DAY AND COMMIT DURING THE EVENING PEAK DEMAND PERIOD.

TO SEE THE CUSTOMER SIZE ENERGY RESOURCES TO FILL NEEDS THAT WERE TRADITIONALLY PROVIDED BY BIG POWER PLANTS.

>> MAYBE I CAN FILL IN MORE.

>>Lara: GO AHEAD, JAMES.

>> KYLIE SAID THERE'S A LAW WHERE THE LARGEST POWER PLANT ON THIS ISLAND, COAL PLANT IS SCHEDULED TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR.

A LAW PASSED LAST YEAR THAT REQUIRES THAT.

NOT ALLOWED TO APPROVE THAT CONTRACT.

IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MAKING OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH RENEWABLE PROJECTS ONLINE TO REPLACE THAT PLANT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC.

AS KYLIE SAID, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS AS A WHOLE PORTFOLIO PROJECT.

NOT JUST LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER TYPES OF CUSTOMER RESOURCES, AND HOPEFULLY SOON MORE COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS.

AS KYLIE SAID, WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED A NUMBER OF DELAYS WITH LARGER PROJECTS WE'RE COUNTING ON.

WE'VE HAD TO BRING KIND OF ALL PROJECTS TO BEAR ALL TYPES OF RESOURCES AND GET EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOLD THE TIME LINES WE HAVE FOR THESE PROJECTS.

TIME LINES, TO TAKE THE COAL PLANT OFFLINE, WE NEED RESOURCES TO CONTINUE TO COME ON TO REPLACE IT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT -- IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

THE COMMISSION -- COLTON AND I, WE'VE HAD OUR DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH THE DELAYS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF NEW PROJECTS COMING ONLINE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RETIRE ADDITIONAL FOSSIL PLANT AFTER THAT.

SOME OF THE OLDEST AS WELL AFTER THAT.

AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN APPLY THIS TO MAUI AND BIG ISLAND AFTERWARDS.

>> CAN I -- >>Lara: GO AHEAD, COLTON.

>> THANKS.

I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT FOR EVERYONE HERE, THE LIGHTS ON OAHU, THEY'RE GOING TO STAY ON.

KYLIE MADE REFERENCE TO -- I THINK SHE SAID SHORTFALLS OF ENERGY.

I THINK WHAT KYLIE IS REFERRING TO, IN OUR CALCULATIONS, HOW MUCH RESERVE GENERATIONS WE'LL HAVE.

SLIGHTLY LESS IN THE FALL OF 2022 AND POTENTIALLY SECOND HALF OF 2023, BUT THAT'S HAVING LESS RESERVES THAN WHAT WE HAVE WITHOUT -- IT DOESN'T MEAN LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING OR THIS FOR YEARS.

WE'VE GOING TO HAVE OVER THREE HUNDRED MEGAWATTS OF GENERATION AVAILABLE TO USE BEYOND WHAT WHICH USE IN HAWAI'I DURING OUR PEAK TIMES.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR ALL OF US, WE HAVE THAT COMFORT, THAT WE DO HAVE PLANS IN PLACE.

AS JAMES MENTIONED, WE'RE PULLING ON MANY RESOURCES.

NOT JUST THE BIG RESOURCES, EXISTING RESOURCES, BUT A LOT OF NEW STORAGE RESOURCES.

SMALLER SOLAR AND STORAGE RESOURCES THAT KYLIE MENTIONED.

THEY'RE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO HELP US GET THROUGH THIS PERIOD WITH RELIABLE POWER.

>>Lara: I WANT TO DIG INTO THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH PUBLICLY AND SOME OF THE NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT THIS.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ON WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THE INCENTIVES OR HOW THIS TRANSITION WOULD HAPPEN MIGHT BE TOO RIGID FOR HECO.

THERE WERE ISSUES AND CONCERNS.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE AS TO WHAT YOU SEE AS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING WITH WAY THIS IS ROLLED OUT?

AND WHAT YOU STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S AN ISSUE FOR HECO?

>> YEAH, THANKS.

I REALLY WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE ANY OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY AS BEING AN ISSUE, PER SE.

WHAT JAMES MENTIONED, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALL COMING TOGETHER TO WORK ON THIS TOGETHER.

FIND SOLUTIONS, WORKING TOGETHER AND NOT JUST WITH THE PUC AND OTHER PARTIES, BUT EVEN THE GOVERNOR SET UP A TASK FORCE TO FIND WAYS TO BRING PROJECTS BACK ON SCHEDULE.

ADDRESS PERMITTING ISSUES THAT MAY POTENTIALLY BE HOLDING UP SOME OF THESE PROJECTS TO GET THEM ON TRACK.

IF ANYTHING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ALL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS ENSURING, WE MAKE THIS TRANSITION IN A RELIABLE WAY.

WE'RE COMMUNICATING WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND WHAT THIS MEANS VERY CLEARLY.

PART OF OUR CHALLENGES HAS BEEN THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERIODS IN WHICH WE'LL HAVE LESS RESERVES THAN WHAT WE HAD, SAY, IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF TIME, DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO BE SHORT IN POWER.

>>Lara: I WANT TO GET TO OTHER GUESTS.

I WANT TO FOLLOW UP.

THERE WAS REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT AES HAWAI'I SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO CONVERT ITS COAL BURNING TO ONE THAT BURNS WOOD PALETTES INSTEAD.

EVEN THOUGH ASIDE FROM THAT, IT'S EXPECTED TO CLOSE SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND RIGHT NOW?

IF THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AS A REQUEST, AND THAT'S NOW ANOTHER POTENTIAL DIRECTION THAT THIS WILL GO.

AND I WANT KYLIE TO JUMP IN TOO BECAUSE NO DOUBT ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN KEEPING TABS ON IT.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE?

IF IT LOOKS LIKE THAT DOOR MIGHT BE OPENED IN ANOTHER WAY?

>> JAY, GO AHEAD.

>> CAN I START?

OKAY.

I THINK IT STARTED BACK IN MARCH.

WE FIRST LEARNED OF THE DELAYS TO RENEWABLE PROJECTS.

IN MARCH THE COMMISSION PUT A CALL OUT, TELLING STAKEHOLDERS WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR SHORTFALLS WITH DELAYS IN PROJECT.

COMMISSION ASKED STAKEHOLDERS TO BRING ALL IDEAS TO US.

WE HAVE RECEIVED A LARGE NUMBER OF IDEAS INCLUDING WHAT KYLIE TALKED ABOUT.

HOW WE COMPARE BATTERIES WITH CUSTOMER ROOFTOP SYSTEMS.

ONE OF THE RECENT PROPOSALS WAS PUT FORTH LAST WEEK.

WHAT THEY PROPOSE IS TO CONVERT THAT COAL PLANT TO RUN ON BIOMASS APPARENTLY PELLETS WOULD BE IMPORTED FROM THE MAINLAND.

THEY ASKED THE COMMISSION, WITHIN 30 DAYS, IF THERE WAS INTEREST IN THAT.

WE HAD A STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSION ONLINE WHERE WE ASKED DIRECTLY TO COLTON'S BOSS WHETHER THIS WAS NECESSARY.

THE COST OF THAT PROPOSAL IS SIGNIFICANT, AND I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS IS WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A FOUR-MONTH PERIOD WHERE THE COAL PLANT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN AS IS.

THERE'S PROBABLY SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

COLTON'S BOSS SAYS ACCORDING TO THEIR ANALYSIS, SO FAR IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR RELIABILITY PURPOSES, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ANALYSIS WITH THE WHOLE RANGE OF PROJECT AND PROGRAMS WE BROUGHT TOGETHER, IT LOOKS TO BE THAT WAY SO FAR.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF AT THE MOMENT.

BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR OF THE PROGRESS TO PROJECTS.

>>Lara: COLTON.

>> COLTON AND KYLIE WEIGH IN FURTHER.

>> SURE.

I'LL BE BRIEF.

I THINK JAY SAID MUCH OF WHAT I WAS PLANNING TO SAY.

ONLY THING I'LL ADD IS JAY MENTIONED PRICING.

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A PROPOSAL FROM AES.

IN A LETTER THAT THEY SUBMITED, WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE PLANT.

NUMBER ONE, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

WE HAVE MANY OPTIONS, AND WE PLAN TO HAVE SUFFICIENT RESEARCHES GETTING THROUGH THIS PERIOD.

WE THINK THAT THE PRICING IS GOING TO NOT BE HELPFUL TO OUR CUSTOMERS IN ITS CURRENT FORM IN THAT LETTER.

IF AES WANTS TO IN THE FUTURE PROCURE AND COMPETE WITH RENEWABLE RESOURCES, WE WELCOME THAT.

AS IT SAYS IN THE LETTER, WE DON'T SEE A COMPELLING CASE TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER.

>>Lara: KYLIE, WHAT STANDS OUT AS YOU HEAR THEM?

>> SURE.

AS FAR AS BIOMASS, THEY DO EMIT A LOT OF GREENHOUSE GASES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE CYCLE.

THAT GOES INTO THE POWER PLANT.

THAT'S ONE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, UPGRADING THE COAL PLANT TO RUN ON BIOMASS IS GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY.

ALL THAT WILL BE PAID BY THE TAXPAYER SOMEHOW.

ONCE WE HAVE THAT CONVERTED TO RUN ON BIOFUEL, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO RUN THAT SHIP AROUND.

WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS IS OTHER DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES LIKE ROOFTOP SOLAR OR OTHER TYPES OF RENEWABLE PROJECT BEFORE WE GO DOWN THAT PATH.

>>Lara: DAVID, HOW WERE WE ABLE TO CREATE THAT STRUCTURE, AND HOW CAN IT BE TRANSFERRED ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE STATE, WHETHER IT BE ON OAHU?

WHEN YOU'RE LISTENING TO HOW SOME OF THESE COMPLEX ISSUES ARE ROLLING OUT ON OTHER ISLANDS, WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

STRUCTURE YOU CREATED ON KAUA'I AND WHAT'S RESULTED BECAUSE OF THAT IN THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD?

>> WITH OUR HIGH PENETRATION OF RENEWABLES, PARTICULARLY SOLAR, WE'RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGES FACING OTHER ISLANDS PARTICULARLY OAHU.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE STRATEGY.

WE HAVE TO PULL IN EVERY AVAILABLE RENEWABLE RESOURCE THAT YOU CAN GET DONE TO HIT OUR GOALS.

PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING ON OAHU, AND I HEAR TALK ABOUT DISTRIBUTED SOLAR AS IF IT'S THE ANSWER TO SOLVE OAHU'S PROBLEMS.

IT'S PART OF THE SOLUTION ABSOLUTELY, BUT IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.

EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE DONE.

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS HAVE TO BE DONE.

PRICING IS A FACTOR.

LARGER PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY SOLAR, HALF THE COST OF ROOFTOP SOLAR.

ALL OF IT'S GOT TO BE DONE.

THEY'RE ALL HARD.

NONE OF THE PROJECTS ARE EASY.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANY LOW-HANGING FRUIT IN THE STATE'S CONVERSE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

EVERY PROJECT HAS ITS CHALLENGES.

THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING FURTHER ALONG WITH GO.

COLTON'S GOT A CHALLENGE.

OAHU'S GOT A CHALLENGE.

WE'VE GOT A CHALLENGE TO KEEP PROGRESSING ON KAUA'I.

ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE TO START PULLING TOGETHER.

THERE'S NO PERFECT PROJECT.

THERE'S NO PERFECT PROJECT WITH ZERO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.

WE GOT TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BIGGER GOAL, WHICH IS GETTING OFF OIL.

HELPING OURSELVES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.

EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE EVALUATED AND WORKED TO PUSH FORWARD TO MEET THE CHALLENGING GOALS.

STATE.

>> I WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT DAVID WAS MENTIONING.

I DO AGREE THAT KIUC'S NUMBERS LOOK FANTASTIC ON PAPER AS FAR AS MEETING OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT KIUC ADOPTS A COMMUNITY CENTER APPROACH TO ADOPTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.

HE MENTIONED A HYDRO PROJECTS IN WORK FOR THE WEST SIDE OF KAUA'I.

THIS IS HUGE, AND IT HAS GREAT PROMISE.

IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND FOR LONGER THAN MOST OF OUR LIFE TIMES, BUT THERE ARE REAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL CONCERN THE COMMUNITY HAS.

IF THAT MEANS TAKING A PAUSE NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER ALL THOSE COMMUNITY CONCERNS, THAT'S WHAT KIUC SHOULD BE DOING.

THEN ON EAST SIDE OF KAUA'I, THERE ARE THESE OLD PLANTATION ERA HYDRO SYSTEMS DIVERTING SACRED WATERS OF MOUNT WAIALEALE.

AS KIUC MOVES FORWARD WITH THE 21ST CENTURY HYDRO PROJECT, IT CONSIDERS RETIRING OLDER SYSTEMS THAT THE COMMUNITY DON'T LIKE.

>>Lara: GO AHEAD, DAVID.

>> ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

COMMUNITY BASED.

WE ARE OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY OF KAUA'I.

IT'S HARD TO GET MORE COMMUNITY FOCUSED THAN WE ARE.

ANY PROJECT YOU DO IN THE STATE HAS TO GO THROUGH ROBUST ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, ARCHEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS UNDER THE STATE LAW.

IT'S A VERY ROBUST PROCESS.

TAKES YEARS TO GET TO SOME OF THE COMPLEX PROJECTS SUCH AS WE'RE DOING.

I AGREE IT'S ESSENTIAL.

PROJECTS HAVE TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND.

AGAIN, THERE'S NO PERFECT PROJECT.

YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING IN A RENEWABLE WORLD IF YOU'RE GETTING 100% EVERYBODY AGREES WITH IT.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET GOOD PROJECTS, WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS.

AND KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S BIGGER CHALLENGES IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE NEED TO GET OFF OIL AND KEEP THE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD THAT MAKE GOOD COMMUNITY SENSE.

>>Lara: I NEED TO GET SOME VIEWS QUESTIONS.

QUITE A FEW ARE -- NOT SURPRISING HAVING TO DO WITH WIND FARMS IN KAHUKU AREA AND ELSEWHERE.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS HAVE COME IN.

ONE HAS TO DO WITH -- THIS IS FROM MELISSA FROM MAKAHA ASKING ABOUT WHERE ARE THE SITES BEING LOCATED.

IF THERE ARE CONSIDERATIONS, WHERE ARE THESE ENERGY SITES PLACED.

BASED ON WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON POLYNESIAN AND HAWAIIAN COMMUNITIES.

IF POSSIBLE INEQUITIES ARE ADDRESSED.

I WANT TO TAG IN ON ANOTHER FROM KOOLAULOA.

TALKING ABOUT THESE BEING BANNED IN OTHER AREAS.

ACCORDING TO HER, SAFETY PROBLEMS AND WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BE RECONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT NOT ONLY SHOULD THEY BE THERE, BUT SHOULD WE BE ADDING MORE?

I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO JUMP IN FIRST AS TO WHERE YOUR PERSPECTIVE STANDS NOW WITH COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT THEM BEING THERE AND POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF THOSE TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> GO AHEAD, COLTON.

>> I'LL BE BRIEF, KYLIE.

SO WITH THE TWO QUESTIONS THEY GOT, LAURA, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO RESPOND WITH, AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE FOSSIL FUEL.

INCREASE OUR USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

WE WANT TO DO OUR PART.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE ISLAND.

IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE WORLD.

AT THE SAME TIME, OUR EFFORTS TO DO THAT WILL HAVE SPECIFIC IMPACTS IN SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES.

THEREIN LIES THE CHALLENGE.

THERE'S THIS WORLDWIDE MISSION AND OBJECTIVE THAT WILL IMPACT COMMUNITIES DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO TO SORT OF ANSWER THAT QUESTION FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE FIRST, YOU THINK THE RIGHT WAY AND BETTER WAY TO REALLY HAVE CITING OF PROJECTS DONE IS TO HAVE EARLY DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMUNITIES.

AND FOLKS WILL USE PHRASES LIKE GO SLOW TO GO FAST.

GO SLOW TO GO FAST, AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR HAVING GOOD, COMPLETELY AND COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMUNITIES BEFORE A PROJECT IS PROPOSED.

FOR HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC, WE'RE NOT THE ONES OURSELVES DOING THESE PROJECTS.

LIKE KIUC, PROJECTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED BY THIRD PARTIES.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER IN ADVANCE OF THOSE PROJECTS BEING PERMITTED GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESSES TO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMUNITIES OF WHAT OPTIONS ARE, WHAT THE TRADEOFFS ARE SO WE CAN GET INPUT FROM THESE COMMUNITIES BEFORE A PROJECT IS STARTED.

>>Lara: GO AHEAD, KYLIE.

>> SURE.

I WAS GOING TO PLUS ONE TO WHAT COLTON SAID ABOUT HOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY EARLY ON AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO MY POINT ABOUT BUILDING A CLEAN ENERGY GRID FROM THE BOTTOM UP WITH BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

BUT ON OTHER SIDE OF THAT, THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO CHIP AWAY AT THE BIG PIE OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS BY MAXIMIZING CUSTOMER SIZE RESOURCES LIKE ROOFTOP SOLAR, HOME BATTERIES.

THIS WAY WE CAN AVOID THE NEED FOR AS MUCH BIG PROJECTS AS WE OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE NEEDED.

AND AT THE SAME TIME LOWER CUSTOMERS' ELECTRICITY BILLS AND BUILD A MORE RESILIENT SYSTEM.

>>Lara: I THINK -- I'M SURE SOME OF YOU MAY BE SURPRISED BY A LOT OF CONCERN AND CONFUSION AND MAYBE MISTRUST AS FAR AS THE PROCESS FOR ONE WITH HOW THESE -- THE WIND FARMS ARE ROLLED OUT IN KAHUKU.

THIS IS CASEY FROM FACEBOOK ASKING WHY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ON HUGE WIND TURBINES ARE KEPT SECRET AND WHY THEY'RE NOT HELD LIABLE.

I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE MAYBE A NEED FOR MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH?

DO WE FEEL THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OR MORE TRUST BUILDING NEEDS TO HAPPEN?

CONSIDERING THAT THESE QUESTIONS ARE COMING.

THERE'S A COUPLE FROM LANI ASKING ABOUT WHERE ARE THESE COMPONENTS COMING FROM?

IT IS OUTSIDE THE STATE?

IS IT BENEFITING US?

I DON'T KNOW WHO MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS OVERALL AS TO TRANSPARENCY OF IT AND WHAT'S BEING SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> MAYBE I'LL -- >>Lara: GO AHEAD, JAMES.

I'M GOING TO BE CAREFUL AS WE STILL HAVE COURT ACTION PENDING AND DECISIONS RELATED TO THE KAHUKU WIND PROJECT.

WE'VE CERTAINLY HEARD THE CONCERNS.

WE'VE HAD PROTESTORS HERE RELATED TO THAT PROJECT.

PROBABLY ONE OF MY LOW POINTS IN MY TIME HERE IS TO HAVE TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND WATCH ARMED CONVOYS BRINGING COMPONENTS TO THE NORTH SHORE AND PEOPLE PROTESTING.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT THE STATE'S TRYING TO DO IF THAT WOULD BE THE LEADING CASE OF FAILURE TO SOME DEGREE.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

I THINK AS MORE CONCERNS HAVE COME IN, WE HAD SOME OF OUR STAFF GO OUT WITH HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC TO DO VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS IN THE KAHUKU COMMUNITY TAPED LIVE BROADCAST.

WE TRIED TO BE RESPONSIVE.

AND I THINK IN THE MOST RECENT ROUNDS OF RENEWABLE PROJECTS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBERS, THERE'S 20 PROJECTS TOTAL THROUGHOUT THE STATE PROPOSED.

OF THESE, AROUND TWO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY OPPOSED AT THIS POINT BEFORE OUR COMMISSION.

I DON'T THINK THE PROCESS IS PERFECT YET, BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STEPS TO IMPROVE ON THAT.

NEXT WEEK, WE'RE HOLDING A STAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON MOLOKAI.

WE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSALS THERE.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ACTIVELY WORK AND RECEIVE THAT FEEDBACK AND LOOK AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK -- AND THE REALITY, IT'S NOT CLEAR THERE'S FURTHER PATH FOR WIND DEVELOPMENT NEAR TERM.

UNTIL THE BROKEN TRUST IS HEALED, AND IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY -- TO NOT SEE THAT, I THINK, MISSES EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY THERE.

>>Lara: QUICK QUESTION -- GO AHEAD.

>> IF I CAN ADD TO WHAT JAY SAID.

SO WE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID TO IMPROVE OUR PROCUREMENT IS ESTABLISH MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS.

SET A MINIMUM STANDARD.

ANY DEVELOPER THAT'S GOING TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH US, FOR THOSE DEVELOPERS THEIR TEAMS TO GO THROUGH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS BEFORE THINGS ARE BUILT.

AND WE DO THAT TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS, NOT TO SAY THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN TALKING TO COMMUNITIES, TALKING TO COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT WHAT THEY FEEL IS DEFICIENT WITH EARLIER PROCESS AND PROBLEMS AND PROCESSES THEY WENT THROUGH.

>> QUICK QUESTION FROM CHARLES.

HE'S ASKING ABOUT THE BLADES ON WIND TURBINES.

WHEN ARE THEY REPLACED?

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR DISPOSAL?

WHAT IS THE DISPOSAL PROCESS?

CAN ANYONE OF YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION FROM CHARLES?

>> I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S BEST DIRECTED TO THE ACTUAL WIND FARM DEVELOPERS AND PROJECT OWNERS.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT UNDER OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUR INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS, THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TO MEET ALL LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING SAFETY.

AT THE END, THEY HAVE CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES TO RETURN THAT SITE BACK TO SOME PRE-PROJECT LEVEL.

THE DETAILS OF THE QUESTION IS SOMETHING THE PROJECT DEVELOPER IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER.

>>Lara: DAVID, YOU'RE GETTING PROPS.

DAVID FROM HAWAI'I ISLAND SAYING WHY CAN'T WE HAVE ELECTRICITY COOPERATIVES ON OTHER ISLANDS?

I WANT TO BUILD ON THAT.

QUESTIONS WE'RE GETTING ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND WHERE IT PLAYS INTO ALL OF THIS.

MICHAEL ASKING, 67 RENEWABLE ON KAUA'I IS GREAT.

ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WITH AUTO FLEET BY 2030?

COUPLE OTHER SAYING, HEY, WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS?

LARRY ASKING ABOUT THE CONVERSION.

AND I WANT TO START WITH YOU, DAVID.

I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT YOU CAN ANSWER THIS, BUT I'M CURIOUS, TOO, IF THERE'S BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION AS FAR AS PILOT PROJECTS ON KAUA'I RELATED TO THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A SMALLER AREA.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES AND GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR UTILITIES THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.

WE HAVE WITHIN OUR BOARDROOM, WE HAVE DISCUSSION EVERY MEETING ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING ON EVs.

WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS GOING.

RIGHT NOW ON KAUAI, WE HAVE I THINK 420 REGISTERED ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

AND THE BIG QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE TWO YEARS FROM NOW?

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE TEN YEARS FROM NOW?

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE?

IT CAN HELP INCREASE SALES, INCREASE IDEALLY USING RENEWABLES.

WHICH MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE OR USE MORE EXPENSIVE SOLAR TO DO SO.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

WHERE IS THE INDUSTRY GOING TO BE GOING?

HECO SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT ON THAT.

MAUI, THEY'RE KIND OF AHEAD OF THE GAMES IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FROM THE UTILITY.

WE'RE WATCHING THEM VERY CLOSELY.

ITS COOPERATIVE IN PARTICULAR, WE DON'T WANT TO INVEST OUR MONEY IN AREAS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO.

ONE OF THE DEBATES IS, IS THE ENTIRE PURCHASE AS LARGE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMPANY HAS TO INCENTIVIZE.

WILL THAT HAPPEN ORGANIC?

DO PEOPLE LIKE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT OR THEY WANT 1% OFF THE CAR?

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY SPREAD TO CUSTOMERS TO SUPPORT.

WE'RE DEBATING THAT ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.

>>Lara: HOW MANY CHARGING STATIONS ARE THERE ON WHETHER IT BE ON KAUA'I AND OAHU.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE CHARGING STATIONS.

>> CAN I WEIGH IN HERE?

I WAS FORTUNATE TO ATTEND A BILL SIGNING.

FOUR BILLS TOTAL.

THREE RELATED TO THIS TOPIC.

LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR SUPPORTED AN ADDITIONAL PROGRAM THAT THE COMMISSION HELPS IMPLEMENT THROUGH HAWAI'I ENERGY CUSTOMER PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE FUNDING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS TAKEN STRONG LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ELECTRIFYING THE FLEET FOR STATE VEHICLES AND MORE LEGISLATION RELATED TO THAT.

THE STATE'S GOALS ARE TO SIGNIFICANTLY CLEAN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR TOO.

THE WAY I'VE VIEWED THIS, FROM JUST ELECTRIC DEMAND SIDE, WE NEED TO BE SHOOTING OVER 100% IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CONVERT ANY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR WITH CLEAN ELECTRICITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE THAN OUR DEMAND TODAY.

THAT IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, BUT TO DO THAT, WHAT DAVID TALKS ABOUT GETTING OFF OIL, THAT'S GETTING AS MUCH OF THE USE OF OIL, BOTH FOR THE FUEL WE USE IN POWER PLANTS AND CARS AND TRUCKS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT -- WE'VE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT SETBACKS IN THE PAST YEAR WITH OUR REFINERY ASKING US TO INCREASE WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING US TO BUY THE OIL FROM THEM.

>>Lara: SO I SAID I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU A RAIL QUESTION.

HERE'S A RAIL QUESTION.

>> I SAID I WOULD DEFER TO COLTON.

>>Lara: FROM INSTAGRAM ASKING, HOW DOES THE RAIL RUNNING ON ELECTRICITY FIT INTO THIS?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION ALL KIDDING ASIDE ABOUT RAIL BEING A TABOO TOPIC FOR TONIGHT.

LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM ON OAHU IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A ZERO LOW CARBON SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT IS ALSO HIGHLY EFFICIENT.

SO ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE GREAT.

I OWN ONE.

I THINK JAMES, YOU OWN ONE.

KYLIE TOO.

>> LEASE.

>> THEY'RE EFFICIENT.

THEY'RE QUIET, ECONOMICAL.

ONE THING MORE ECONOMIC IS ALL OF US GETTING ON THE SAME RAIL TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

NOT ONLY IS IT LOWER CARBON BUT LOWER IN COST.

IT'S AN IMPORTING PART OF OUR SOLUTION.

PUTTING ASIDE THE CONTROVERSY AROUND THE RAIL PROJECT, ZERO CARBON MASS TRANSIT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GET US TO OUR DECARBONIZATION GOAL.

>> I WANTED TO ADD -- >>Lara: GO AHEAD.

>> ON THE TRANSPORTATION PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION, WHICH IS THAT ELECTRIFICATION IS KEY TO SOLVING OUR CLIMATE PUZZLE.

IDEA IS WE PUSH ALL THE TRADITIONALLY GAS EMISSIONS TO THE ELECTRIC SIDE AND ELECTRIFY THE GRID.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE NEED TO DO AS WE DO THAT IS PLAN FOR THE DEMAND FROM ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND SECONDLY, MAKE SURE THAT CHARGING EVs OCCUR AT MOST OPTIMAL TIME OF DAY.

ENERGY IS USED THE MOST IN THE EVENING PERIOD.

WE DON'T WANT EVERYONE PLUGGING THEM IN AT THE SAME TIME.

WE'RE WORKING ON PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE EV CHARGING IS MANAGED SO IT DOESN'T CREATE THE NEED FOR MORE ELECTRIC GENERATION.

>>Lara: A LITTLE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS FLOATING OUT THAT I WANT TO TRY TO GET TO.

ONE OF THEM IS, OF COURSE, BOTTOM LINE WHICH BOB FROM KANEOHE IS ASKING ABOUT.

INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE RESOURCES, WHEN WILL WE SEE REDUCTIONS IN OUR ELECTRIC BILLS?

COLTON?

[LAUGHTER] YOU HESITATED.

>> I'M FROM KANEOHE, TOO.

MAYBE THAT'S MY NEIGHBOR THAT ASKED THE QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH ONE TO ANSWER.

WHAT I CAN SAY IS RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON TODAY, ONE THAT'S WE RECENTLY CONTRACTED, SOME ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING BUILT TODAY.

ARE BEING CONTRACTED AT PRICES LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD IF WE WERE TO REMAIN ON OIL.

RIGHT.

WE'RE REDUCING THE COST OF GENERATION VERSUS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE.

THAT'S NOT THE SAME THING AS REDUCTION IN YOUR BILL, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE COST OF GENERATION ON THE SYSTEM.

THE WAY WE'RE REGULATING OUR COST, ANY REDUCTIONS ARE PASSED ON TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

FOR ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE SERVE HERE ON OAHU AND MAUI COUNTY AND HAWAI'I ISLAND, ALL THE PROJECTS WE'RE ADDING THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, ARE SOME OF THE LOWEST COST RESOURCES, PERIOD, THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRACT FOR.

>>Lara: I KNOW IT'S TOUGH TO DO SHORT ANSWERS, BUT WE'RE GETTING TIGHT ON TIME.

I WANT TO GET THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

ONE IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN HAVING THESE LANDS FOR THESE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS AND HAVING LANDS FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS THERE BECAUSE THERE'S COMPETING ENTITIES WHO WANT THIS LAND, WHETHER IT BE FOR THE RENEWABLE OR WHETHER IT BE FOR AGRICULTURE?

WHO WANTS TO DIVE IN THIS?

AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACH THESE COMPETING -- IN SOME WAYS COMPETING GOALS?

>> I KNOW I SPOKE A LOT, BUT CAN I DO A SHORT ANSWER?

>>Lara: GO AHEAD.

>> WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, LAURA, THERE ARE POLICIES IN PLACE IN THE STATE TODAY THAT AREN'T PERFECTLY ALIGNED.

WE HAVE GREAT IMPORTANT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, BUT POLICIES TO CARRY THEM OUT DON'T FULLY CAPTURE AND APPRECIATE AND CONSIDER THIS POINT.

WHAT'S THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF LAND GIVEN OUR POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES SO WE CAN MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS.

NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL DEBATE FOR ONE PROJECT, BUT THROUGH LAND USE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS TO SAY HEY, THESE LAND ARE BEST USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

IT DOESN'T RESULT IN THE BEST SOLUTION, BUT TOGETHER IT'S THE BEST SOLUTION FOR US.

THAT'S THE WAY WE GOT TO LOOK AT IT.

>>Lara: GO AHEAD, KYLIE AND DAVID, I WANT YOU TO JUMP IN.

>> I WANTED TO ADD THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAXIMIZE SLOPED AG LANDS TO DEVELOP SOLAR PROJECTS LESS IDEAL FOR FARMING.

WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AND MAXIMIZE SPACE WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

>> ON KAUA'I, IT'S BEEN A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THERE'S THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF AGRICULTURE LAND NOT IN PRODUCTIVE USE NOW.

BIGGER CHALLENGE IS FINDING PRODUCTIVE USES FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND AND IDEALLY, GROWING THINGS CAN HELP FEED OUR POPULATION.

WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE SESSION ON THAT FOR PROBABLY A COUPLE HOURS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BRING MORE AGRICULTURE TO OUR ISLAND.

P.V.

IS A SMALL FRACTION.

IT'S NOT TAKING AWAY ANY AGRICULTURE.

>>Lara: JAMES, IS THERE ANY SPECIFICS YOU CAN ADD?

WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE INCLUDING IN THIS DISCUSSION TO TRY TO FIND A BALANCE OR WAY FORWARD IN THIS AS FAR AS WE GOT LIMITED LAND HERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

>> TO YOUR POINT, I THINK IT'S THE MOST -- WHAT WE'RE SEEING POP UP IS A LOT OF PROJECTS ARE BEING PROPOSED IN CENTRAL OAHU AREA.

I THINK IT'S AN AREA WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE DISCUSSION WITH THE FOLKS INVOLVED.

WE'RE SEEING HOW SOME OF THE NEWER DEVELOPERS ARE LOOKING TO HAVE OTHER TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL USES COEXIST WITH SOLAR PROJECTS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE DISCUSSIONS LIKE THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO RACE TO A GOAL HERE, SO I KNOW IN OUR SHOES, WE'RE BEING PRESSED TO DO THINGS FASTER AND QUICKER.

SO I THINK WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HELP THAT DISCUSSION ALONG.

MOST OF THE DECISION-MAKING TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE PUC.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR ENERGY OFFICE AS WELL TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES.

>>Lara: WE'VE GOT A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

A TECHNICAL QUESTION FROM MIKE IN NIU VALLEY.

FOR HECO.

AS 2045 APPROACHES, DOES HECO KEEP THE SECONDARY GRID THAT SUPPLIES ENERGY TO DOWNTOWN?

AS HECO TRANSITIONS, ARE GRID NETWORKS VIABLE OR WILL THEY CHANGE TO NON-GRID?

COLTON.

>> THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION.

>>Lara: IT IS.

>> IN DOWNTOWN HONOLULU, WE HAVE A UNIQUE DISTRIBUTION.

AND, YEAH, WE STILL SEE IT IN THE FUTURE.

WE THINK IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH OUR GRID TODAY.

WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE GRID IN 2045.

DISTRIBUTION TO DOWNTOWN AREA IS SOMETHING WE HAD GOING BACK TO THE '50s, AND WHAT WE GET FROM THAT NETWORK SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE AS VALUABLE OR MORE VALUABLE IN THE FUTURE.

AS KYLIE TALKS ABOUT, MORE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE ELECTRIFIED.

MORE WE RELY ON ELECTRICITY, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE OUR EXPECTATION ON THAT POWER BEING THERE WHEN WE WANT IT.

>>Lara: A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

AND I WANT TO GIVE THE REST OF YOU 30 SECONDS EACH.

WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE -- YOU THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO FOCUS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

MAYBE WE'LL TURN TO KYLIE.

WE DIDN'T GET TO WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, ABOUT RISING TEMPERATURES AND WHAT STRAIN THAT MIGHT PUT ON THE EFFORTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT?

>> KEY TAKE AWAY IS ROOFTOP SOLAR AND HOME BATTERIES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE GRID IN SO MANY WAYS.

WE NEED TO SET POLICIES THAT PROMOTE THOSE RESOURCES.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S MORE MEGAWATTS OF ROOFTOP SOLAR ON THE GRID THAN ANY OTHER CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCE.

WE REALLY NEED TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO CONTINUE MOVING THAT DOWN THAT PATH.

>>Lara: AND DAVID, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE KAUA'I IS GOING NOW AND ALSO HOW THOSE MODELS ARE LOOKED AT, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE STATE BUT INTERNATIONALLY IN A LOT OF WAYS ON THE PROJECTS YOU'RE WORKING ON.

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE AS FAR AS WHAT THE NEXT STEPS AND IMPORTANT THINGS TO STAY CONNECTED AND UNDER.

>> A LOT OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGES AS WE GET CLOSER TO 100% RENEWABLE.

THE GRIDS ARE VERY COMPLEX, AND WE'VE GOT VERY GOOD ENGINEERS, AND WE WORK WITH LEADING PROVIDERS, BUT WE HAVE TO PULL TOGETHER ON TECHNICAL SIDE AND PROJECT SIDING SIDE AND WORK HARD TO MAKE GOOD PROJECTS HAPPEN.

CONSIDER -- BRING AS MANY PEOPLE BUT MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOAL AS A STATE AND GLOBE.

>>Lara: JAMES, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> I THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE OF HAWAI'I TO LEAD THE WORLD.

WE'RE SEEING THAT HAPPEN, AND IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PROGRESS THAN WE EXPECTED FIVE, TEN YEARS AGO.

AND NEXT GENERATION IS GOING TO BENEFIT.

>>Lara: COLTON.

>> KEY MESSAGE IS WE CAN'T LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND.

WE HAVE TO BRING ALL OF US IN HAWAI'I TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

>>Lara: THANK YOU ALL OF YOU.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS: JAMES GRIFFIN FROM THE STATE OF HAWAI'I PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

COLTON CHING, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC DAVID BISSELL, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE KAUA'I ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE, AND SENIOR ATTORNEY AT EARTHJUSTICE, KYLIE WAGER CRUZ.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, IT'S ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN IN THE FALL WITH STUDENTS REPORTING TO CLASS.

WE'LL HEAR FROM EDUCATORS ON WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHAT SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M LARA YAMADA FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I.

A HUI HOU.