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Clean energy projects get funding

HONLULU (KHNL) - In an effort to make renewable energy a reality for those living in the islands the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has secured close to $2 million dollars in grants and funding for such projects.

"Securing these competitive grants highlights the national leadership role Hawaii is playing in renewable energy development," said Lt. Govenor James "Duke" Aiona, Jr.

"Our administration is committed to breaking Hawaii's dependency on imported oil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through developing clean sources of energy," he said.

One area of technology the program plans to focus on are undersea transmission lines set up to deliver wind and solar generated energy from sources on Lanai and Molokai to Oahu.

The program also plans to upgrade and expand Oahu's electrical transmission and distribution system making it capable of accepting up to one gigawatt of renewable energy.

Another area of the project includes evaluating and integrating the use of new energy systems into the electrical grid. Once integrated These systems would then be evaluated on their storage ability and use.

Building on the progress of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative that formed in January between the State of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Energy the latest grants will help fuel the demand to create clean energy resources.

The goal of the Initiative is to supply 70 percent of Hawaii's energy needs using renewable energy by the year 2030.

(photo courtesy of AP)