First Friday Series: November 2023

ABOUT THIS WEBINAR

How Hawaii Is Going 100% Renewable.

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We know that we need to wean ourselves off fossil fuels — almost immediately — to slow rising global temperatures. The implications if we don’t are potentially irreversible negative consequences, of which we’re already seeing evidence in the form of floods, wildfires, extreme weather, and dangerous heat waves that threaten to make the planet unsustainable — and parts of it uninhabitable.

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But HOW do we do it? Is there a model to which we can look to show others how it is done?

In fact, there is.

Hawaii started deliberating over whether and how to transition to 100% renewable energy in 2009 and then, in 2015, passed the first U.S law mandating the state to make such a 100% renewable-energy transition.

"For the first time, we're transcending political barriers, and this is becoming a universal movement driven by innovation and cost savings, rather than politics and rhetoric."

— Senator Chris Lee, Senate District 25, Hawaii

In this “First Fridays” webinar, we covered how Hawaii State Senator Chris Lee worked together with key stakeholders to pass a mandate requiring Hawaii to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045. Senator Lee was joined by Gwen Yamamoto Lau, Executive Director of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, Sierra Jackovics of Mana Pacific, Inc., and Professor Richard Wallsgrove from the University of Hawaii Law School. Together, they highlighted key strategies for a collaborative renewable movement and explored the application of Hawaii’s model toward future climate goals.