Hawaii BioEnergy, LLCAlakea Corporate Tower , 30th Floor 1100 Alakea , St. Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Hawai BioEnergy (HBE) is a LLC established by three of Hawais largest landowners: Kamehameha Schools, Grove Farm Company Inc., and Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc.  Other partners include Novictor Helicopters, and leaders from the venture capital community - Vinod Khosla, Ohana Holdings and Finistere Ventures.  Hawaii BioEnergys mission is to reduce Hawais energy costs, green house gas emissions, and dependence on imported fossil fuels through the research and development of local renewable bioenergy projects.  Hawaii BioEnergy is actively researching all technically, economically, and environmentally viable processing techniques and distribution channels for a variety of energy crops, including but not limited to sugarcane, woody biomass, and algae.  The consortium invites participation by Hawais other major landowners, businesses, as well as state and county agencies. 

Renewable Energy in Hawai

Nearly 95% of the energy consumed in the State of Hawaii comes from imported fossil fuels. Hawaii residents pay among the highest prices in the nation for gasoline, residential fuel, and electricity. A major component of the energy demand mix in the state is the transportation sector, which uses about 22% of the total imported petroleum or 450 million gallons per annum.  Hawaii has a mandate to move towards ethanol. The state will start by replacing 10% of petroleum fuels (E10) and will eventually replace 20% of petroleum fuels with ethanol (E20) by 2020. Thus, requirement for in-state use in the transportation sector alone will require over 90 million gallons of ethanol assuming consumption at todays levels (450 million gallons).  Currently all ethanol is sourced from utside the state. Hawai BioEnergy could eventually provide over 100% of all future ethanol required for E20 fuels consumed in Hawaii plus a significant percentage of energy for the utility sector as well.  The geographical characteristics of the Hawaiian Islands, being remote and isolated from continental masses, give rise to unique problems relating to energy supply and security. This high dependence on imported petroleum has many deleterious effects on Hawaiis economy and environment:

• Fuel payments leave the local economy, limiting the creation of jobs and strengthening of the states economy.
• Hawai is extremely vulnerable to oil embargoes, supply disruptions, and other energy emergencies.
• Environmental risks such as the potential for catastrophic damage to the fragile island ecosystem from oil spills are increased.

Hawaii can overcome its dependence on foreign oil by developing an island based biomass industry. Hawas climate and year-round growing conditions are ideal for producing biomass and large tracts of lands are available (in some cases from defunct sugarcane operations) throughout the Islands for growing. In light of the above, securing alternative energy sources, such as wind, geothermal, solar and biomass has been a high priority in the energy strategy of the State of Hawaii. Hawaii BioEnergy is helping to secure Hawais economic and environmental future.