Image of Poipu, Hawaii. Credit: Getty Images
Although the USA has pulled out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change as of 2017, nearly half of the states (and territories) have created either renewable or clean energy portfolio standards (RPS) which require mandatory action or targets which are voluntary goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These RPS’s work by promoting or requiring a certain amount of alternative energy sources for transportation and electricity as opposed to traditional fossil fuel production. To date no one has goals as ambitious as Hawaii’s Clean Energy Initiative which aims to reach 100% renewable energy by 2045. And they are well on their way to achieving it…
“There are days now when Hawaii approaches having 60 percent of its power come from renewable energy. ”
Hawaii is an excellent role model for all of the USA and especially for the Virgin Islands as we share many similarities and constraints. Hawaii and the Virgin Islands both have multiple islands separated by oceans, lack interconnected electricity grids, are isolated regions making imports vital and expensive, used to be heavily dependent on fossil fuel resources especially petroleum, have similar sunny and windy climates making photovoltaics and wind turbines a viable option, and have a unique cultural diaspora quite different from the US mainland.
The following article discusses how the entire United States should be paying close attention to Hawaii’s challenges and successes in order to follow in their footsteps for successful planning and execution of renewable energy portfolio standards.
Does learning about Hawaii give you any insights for what can be done in the Virgin Islands? What is similar and what is different about the energy landscape in Hawaii vs. the US Caribbean?
Comment your thoughts below!
Learn more on about the clean energy initiative on their website here: http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/