Special holiday message
The end of the year tends to hold a special place in all our hearts and minds. It is a time to reflect, give thanks, take time to be with our loved ones, and dream up what we want the next year to look like. 2021 was another roller coaster year and there are some definite highlights for energy justice. Here are just a few we’d like to highlight:
Oʻahu: Thanks to the leadership from communities, the Public Utilities Commission held its first ever listening session with residents to improve the Request for Proposal process (RFP) to make it more transparent and inclusive of their concerns. All three commissioners were present and Chair Griffin led the session, community leaders presented brilliant and practical recommendations to make project development more just for impacted communities!
Maui: The West Maui Preservation Association represented by Bianca Isaki, Lance Collins, and Ryan Hurley, intervened in a solar developer's power purchase setting in motion a contested case before the PUC. The hearing resulted in an unprecedented legally enforceable community-benefits package. Although benefits packages are common, like community engagement, it is mostly used as a tool by developers to get community support. They typically lack accountability or legal consequences for developers who don’t fulfill their promises. This win on Maui could be a model for future disputes over clean-energy projects statewide!
Molokaʻi: Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative, an entirely grassroots community-led and owned energy project, is our bonafide North Star. They are the future of our energy system in Hawaiʻi. This year, their vision to provide affordable, resilient, culturally-conscious, energy for their community was solidified by a $7.5 million loan from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA). We truly believe their success can turn the tide on all islands to “huli'' (turn over) the Community-Based Renewable Energy program to go from “benefits to” to “ownership by” the community. Their efforts serve as a roadmap to make community-scale and a resilient distributed energy system a reality in Hawaiʻi!
Hawaiʻi Island: Sierra Club’s Hawaiʻi Island Group got to speak at a listening session on the Community-Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) RFP with The Public Utilities Commission. Executive Committee Leaders Deborah Ward and Shannon Matson worked with their group to provide meaningful comments and recommendations. Preparation included a special CBRE educational session with energy justice guru Ali Andrews of Shake Energy to help advocates understand the specifics and overall process of the Hawaiʻi Island CBRE RFP. Ali has been instrumental in Hoʻāhu’s journey and often demonstrates what community ali-ship looks like!
The local energy justice movement is growing as environmental justice and intersecting issues between land and energy continue to be discussed in the mainstream. The goal must always be to take advantage of this transition to dismantle the extractive and exploitative practices we saw in dirty energy. There are many examples, like the ones above, that demonstrate a democratic, just, and equitable energy system is possible. We’re sure there are many more highlights beyond what’s listed above. But in 2022 we hope to grow in what we do and know about local energy justice. Actions that can be taken to address some of the key issues uplifted this year, top of mind for us will be: considering how we get from community consultation to meaningful dialogue based on mutual negotiating power and decision-making between developers and residents. This is a part of global effort to transform, resist, and mobilize to demand an energy system built upon traditional ways, values, and practices of resource use, people power, and justice. The key piece is you, everyone has a unique role to play in this call for change- as consumers, ratepayers, energy professionals, advocates, and activists calling an end to sacrifice zones and the beginning of an energy democracy in Hawaiʻi. We are truly stronger together and the powers that be are listening.
Just a few things to keep in mind as you reflect this December. We are grateful you are reading this, friend. A hui hou, see you in the new year!
Stay resilient,
Lauren