7.5 Hawaii Prioritizes Energy Equity So No One Gets Left Behind or Forgotten

Did you know that Hawaii has the highest household electricity costs in the United States? To combat energy inequity in the state, Hawaii’s green bank, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA), created its on-bill financing program known as the Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) to make clean energy more affordable for low- and moderate-income households. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Aaron speak with HGIA Executive Director Gwen Yamamoto Lau about some unique energy challenges and solutions from the island state’s perspective.

Show notes:

• Hawaii: Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) On-Bill Program: http://www.eesi.org/obf/case-study/hawaii  

• Increasing Clean Energy Justice and Resilience for Faith Communities Through Solar Energy: http://www.eesi.org/articles/view/increasing-clean-energy-justice-and-resilience-for-faith-communities-through-solar-energy

• Financing Climate Mitigation and Resilience: Lessons from Hawaii: http://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/032020hawaii 

• Rethinking Tourism in the Wake of West Maui’s Wildfires: http://www.eesi.org/articles/view/rethinking-tourism-in-the-wake-of-west-mauis-wildfires

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About this Podcast:

With all the depressing climate news out there, it’s sometimes hard to see progress. The Climate Conversation cuts through the noise and presents you with relevant climate change solutions happening on the Hill and in communities around the United States.

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Episode Transcript:

Dan Bresette: Hello, and welcome to the Climate Conversation. I'm Dan Bresette, president of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. And what's this? Someone is slipping me a script here, and I'm joined today by my incredibly handsome and charming colleague, Aaron Facundo. Hello, Aaron. Nice to see you today. Thanks for joining me on the podcast.

Aaron Facundo: Hey Dan, I'm excited to be hosting the podcasts with you today. Today we're gonna be talking about renewable energy efforts in Hawaii, specifically what Hawaii’s Greenbank, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, has been doing to make clean energy upgrades available to everyone on the islands, particularly low to moderate income households. 

Dan: That's right, Aaron, and needless to say climate change affects everyone in various ways, some more than others. Living with climate change is a unique challenge for Island communities. Hawaii consists of eight main islands and over 100 minor islands and islets. The state also has the highest household electricity costs in the United States, amounting to about 42 cents per kilowatt hour. By co