Hawaii to Tap Sun, Volcanic Activity and Pacific Ocean Winds for 100% Renewable Energy System by 2045. A First in the US!

It's official. Hawaii has enacted state renewable energy standards to tap into its endowment of sustainable resources for a more promising energy future. The Aloha State will transform solar, geothermal and wind energy to provide 100% of its electricity needs by 2045. The 30-year time period allows for a gradual transition, technological investment and community efforts necessary to become the country's first state economy backed by totally clean energy.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) or Solar Thermal Panels in Hawaii.
Photo Courtesy of Energy Industries and bizjournals.com 

State Governor David Ige signed the state legislature's renewable portfolio standards (RPS) bill into law in June. Upon taking office, Ige called for this ambitious, yet reasonable agenda due to economic analyses indicating that foreign fossil fuel imports drain Hawaii's economy of billions of dollars each year which could be otherwise invested in the development of the state's indigenous energy resources.

Volcanic Activity, Volcano National Park, "The Big Island," Hawaii
Image Credits: "Puu Oo cropped" by G.E. Ulrich, USGS, 2015.

According to the Chair of the State House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, Rep. Chris Lee, "renewable energy projects are already producing cheaper power than new fossil fuel projects in Hawaii, and it’s only going to get cheaper as renewable technology advances, unlike fossil fuels which will only grow more expensive as they become more difficult to extract from a shrinking supply."  On this chord, he adds, "the faster we move toward renewable energy the faster we can stop exporting billions from our local economy to import expensive fossil fuels."

To emphasize the key role that communities will play in the 30-year process, an additional measure signed by Ige states that all Hawaiian residents should enjoy the benefits of this energy transition. The law contains provisions for renters, condominium owners and others without their own roof space to form hui, or special gatherings and assemblies to create local solar farms or to purchase electricity from the closest facility. In doing so, all citizens will share in this transition from costly fossil fuels from abroad to the limitless benefits of an indigenous, sustainable energy system.

Note the powerful sunlight reflecting off the waters of Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.

For more summary details on Hawaii's 100% renewable energy standards, take a look at the Press Release from Governor's Office.

Weather and Climate: What's the Difference?

Weather and Climate relate to each other, but they are not the same. In short, weather events like rain and snow are highly unpredictable by nature, whereas climate is the overall, long term analysis of weather events.

Weather is highly unpredictable. Think of winter snow terms, flooding spring showers, rumbling summer storms and hurricanes as summer transitions into autumn. The further away from the present moment, the less reliable the local weather guy's forecasts will be. Next time you check the "weather report," take note of the present conditions, hourly predictions, the 2-day outlook, and the exclusive 7-day forecast or however long the app predicts. Next, as those days pass, keep track of how much the forecast changes during that same predicted period of time. You'll notice that even with today's technology, weather events remain largely unpredictable by nature.

Aftermath of an unpredictable "pop up" storm cell (Philadelphia area, 23 June 2015)

On the other hand, climate is highly analytical and looks at the overall weather conditions like temperature and precipitation in a particular place over a particular period of time. The amount of time could be as small as one day in a certain season, or up to even thousands or millions of years. Technology for climate scientists, or climatologists, continues to improve, so relatively accurate observances of changes in climate overtime and their effects can be calculated and presented as in the image below.

At the surface for years 1961-1990.
Image Credit: Robert A Rhohde of the Global Warming Art Project.