Broader Impact
In October 2008, former Governor Linda Lingle announced the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, which establishes the goal of Hawai`i relying on 100% clean energy by 2045 . Hawai`i’s clean energy goals are the most aggressive in the nation. The initiative will help the state of Hawai`i become independent and less reliable on other economies, achieve energy security, help Hawai`i become more prosperous, and establish a new green economic sector which will counter-balance Hawai`i’s reliance on its tourism and the military . This initiative has also opened up funding opportunities for clean energy and sustainability research. In order for Hawai`i to accomplish its clean energy goals, it is necessary to reduce the energy consumption of the transportation sector. The solution needs to be clean and space efficient.
