As local, national and international communities navigate a changing energy landscape, the 12th Annual Hawaii Energy Conference will bring together industry leaders to offer solutions addressing the most pressing energy challenges of today. With a theme of “Offering Solutions” the conference presented by the Maui Economic Development Board, with support of County of Maui, will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center from May 21-22. 

The Honorable Josh Green, M.D., Governor of the State of Hawaii, will deliver the opening Keynote sharing his vision for Hawaii’s energy future and spotlighting the state’s leadership in the clean energy transition. The program features ten dynamic panels, one deep dive session, featured presentations and ample time for networking with breaks and an exhibit venue.

One topic on the program expected to draw attention is titled “Why not Nuclear.” Michael Colón, Director, Energy Sector, Ulupono Initiative will moderate this session with panelists Marcus Nichol, Executive Director, New Nuclear - Nuclear Energy Institute; Madison Schroder, Policy Coordinator, Generation Atomic; and Jack Shriver, Sr. Program Manager, Indo-Pacific Region - POWER Engineers.

“Our panel will explore the hypothetical role of nuclear energy in Hawaii’s transition to a sustainable energy future,” says Colón. “As Hawaii strives to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets, it’s crucial to consider all viable options. This panel offers a unique opportunity to understand the potential benefits and challenges in a hypothetical scenario in which integrating nuclear energy into Hawaii’s energy mix is a possibility. Attendees will gain perspective on how nuclear power could play a role in achieving a resilient and sustainable energy system.”

Colón stressed that the panel was not to be construed as an endorsement or advocacy for nuclear energy. “We are not selling nuclear,” he said. “We acknowledge the current legal prohibitions on nuclear power in Hawaii as well as the considerable concerns surrounding the technology. Our panel aims to foster an open dialogue about the state’s energy future, considering how advancements in nuclear technology might align with Hawaii’s environmental values and energy needs. By examining case studies and regulatory frameworks from other regions, we hope to inform discussions on broader energy policy considerations for the state.”

Jonathan Koehn, a founding member of the HEC Program Committee and Chief Sustainability & Resilience Officer, City of Boulder, will moderate a panel titled “Power and Fire: How Utilities are Confronting the Growing Wildfire Threat.” Mathew McNeff, Director of Maui County, Hawaiian Electric; Brad Rockwell, Chief of Operations, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; and Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director of the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, State of California will explore how utilities are adapting, from grid hardening and undergrounding to advanced monitoring and AI-driven risk management.

“Wildfire risk is no longer a seasonal concern—it's a year-round, system-wide challenge,” says Koehn. “In this panel, we’ll dig into how utilities are rising to meet that challenge with innovative technologies, regulatory strategies, and on-the-ground experience. I’m looking forward to a candid conversation with leaders from Hawaii and California about what’s working, what’s evolving, and what’s at stake.”

Other panel topics are: 

Repowering & Resilience - Hawaii’s first-in-the-nation 100% Renewable Portfolio Standard and ambitious climate goals from Act 238 are dependent on a reliable electrical grid and a push by the State to make energy more affordable.  What are the gaps and how should we prioritize next steps to meet these policy objectives?

Community Energy Priorities - A catch up on recent events and projects, and discussion on lessons learned to date about community priorities for energy.

Utility Scale Solar - From tariffs to supply chain to credit risks, how can large PV projects find solutions to unexpected challenges and stay on track? 

Unlocking the Value of Grid Service and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) - Customer-sited distributed energy resources (DERs) are transforming the grid by providing essential services that enhance reliability, resilience, and affordability. This panel will explore how grid services and VPPs have been successfully implemented in leading jurisdictions, including Hawaii’s Battery Bonus program, Massachusetts’ Connected Solutions, and Puerto Rico’s emerging VPP initiatives. 

Unlocking Capital for Infrastructure with Usage-Based Funding - Hawai'i’s essential infrastructure is the foundation of economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. These critical assets, from energy and water systems to transportation and housing, are vital to meeting the state's evolving needs. However, limited access to capital has delayed maintenance, slowed expansion, and hindered progress - putting essential infrastructure at risk.

Energy Efficiency - With average monthly electricity use already lower than most States, what are the best remaining areas to reduce electricity use?

Powering the Future - Battery Storage, Safety & Building A Strong Workforce - Licensing requirements for PV work with batteries are already in place in many areas. What are these requirements and are they fair to PV installers? What programs are in place in Hawaii to train safe battery installation?

Updates on Local PV Industry - The latest news on the new Bring-Your-Own-Device rule from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission

Attendees will also be able to hear local perspective on energy with featured presentations from Carmen Hulu Lindsey, Maui Trustee with Office of Hawaiian Affairs and from Makai Freitas, Commissioner of Department of Hawaiian Homelands. 

Deep Dive Session

This year the conference introduces a deep dive session that runs concurrently with the main stage discussions. In an intimate setting for up to 40 participants exploring Time of Use (TOU) rates, the session will be facilitated by Dr. Ahmad Faruqui, Economist-at-Large; Jeremy Kwock, Manager of Pricing, Hawaiian Electric and Jennifer Potter, Faculty Energy Specialist, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.

Dr. Ahmad Faruqui is an energy economist with 45 years of experience on a wide range of energy issues involving the customer. He has published more than a hundred papers and books on electricity pricing, load flexibility, demand forecasting and distributed energy resources and has testified before regulatory bodies, government agencies and legislative bodies. Faruqi and Potter will open Day 2 of the conference with a presentation to the larger audience on the outcomes of the deep dive session.