Hawaii Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Hawaii. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Hawaii. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Hawaii
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Hawaii has few reserves of fossil fuels and is the most oil-dependent of all the states. Hawaii relies on imported petroleum to meet almost 90% of its primary energy requirements. As a result, energy prices are high in Hawaii compared with those on the U.S. mainland. According to the EIA, residential consumers pay twice the national average for electricity and almost three times the national average (per Btu) for total energy consumed in homes.
In January 2008, DOE and the State of Hawaii established the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative to decrease the state's dependence on imported oil and increase the use of renewable energy—enough to supply 70% of its energy needs by 2030.
Read a more complete energy summary for Hawaii, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Hawaii Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 263 (million Btu) |
State rank | 43 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 219.5 (million Btu) |
State rank | 39 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | -0.2% | State rank | 39 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 2.0% | State rank | 33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 588 (million kWh) |
State rank | 34 |
Hawaii has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 2% per year, which slightly less than the national average. However, 75% of the state's electricity is generated from petroleum, which is the highest percentage in the country.
Hawaii contains significant renewable energy resources, including wind and solar energy and biomass. Hawaii is one of five states with geothermal power generation. Read more Hawaii electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for more than half of all energy consumption in Hawaii, which makes it the largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Hawaii from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 364 (gallons) |
State rank | 48 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 0 (gallons) |
State rank | 42 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 16 | State rank | 20 |
| Population | 1,268,000 | State rank | 42 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 73.6% | State rank | 24 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.1% | State rank | 20 |
| Per capita personal income | $34,489 | State rank | 20 |
| Gross state product | $58,307 (million) |
State rank | 40 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Hawaii put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Hawaii has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
Hawaii uses the Hawaii Model Energy Code, which exceeds 1995 Model Energy Code and is voluntary statewide and mandatory in the counties of Honolulu and Maui. The voluntary commercial code is the ASHRAE-IESNA 90.1-1989 with modifications and is mandatory in Hawaii County. Honolulu, Kauai and Maui Counties have adopted ASHRAE 90.1-1999.
Corporate tax credits for renewable energy
Corporations can claim an income tax credit of 20% of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind system and 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar thermal or photovoltaic (PV) system.
Personal tax credits for renewable energy
Individuals can claim an income tax credit of 20% of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind system and 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar thermal or PV system.
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
Hawaii’s requires that 20% of electricity must be generated from renewable energy resources by 2020.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
State buildings, including new residential facilities receiving state funds, must meet minimum insulation requirements, install high performance windows, and, wherever possible, be oriented to maximize natural ventilation and daylighting without heat gain and to optimize solar water heating.
