
Hawaiian government officials claim that recent clean energy developments in the state may make it one of the nation's, or even the world's, leaders in renewable energy, according to the Hawaiian Reporter.
Mourice Kaya of Hawaii's Renewable Energy Development Venture told the news source that the state is heading in the right direction to achieve its goal of supplying 70 percent of the island's demand for electricity with clean energy. The state hopes to use a combination of solar, geothermal, wind and biofuels to reach this by 2030.
"This is a matter of energy security for us," Kaya told the media outlet. "It doesn’t help that economic issues seriously affect the price of energy here, oil in particular. [However], our potential for clean energy and renewable resources is second to none."
At a recent Council of State Governments seminar, Lt. Governor Brian Schatz stated that Hawaii is "particular advantageous" when it comes to making the switch to clean energy, as its status as the most oil-dependent state in the nation is a strong incentive.
Hawaii currently relies on fossil fuels for 90 percent of it's electricity needs, with gas prices averaging $4.25 a gallon, according to the Clean Energy Authority.

