Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative

ABOUT

The Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative, a Hawaii-registered 421C non-profit cooperative association, was formed by community and business leaders on the island to explore and promote a comprehensive approach to develop an integrated, renewable and sustainable energy strategy for the Big Island of Hawaii.

The potential merits of a community-based, cooperative ownership structure for electric utility service on the island include:

Local, democratic control over the island’s energy infrastructure, providing greater benefits and retaining any excess over the cost of operations for island residents.
Community-based and community-chosen strategic priorities under which the cooperative operates for the sustainable development of the island.
Potentially lower electric costs through tax exempt status, lower cost of capital and no shareholder profits, greater efforts to develop less expensive island-based power sources, promotion of education, markedly improved energy efficiency, and the accelerated adoption of appropriate advanced technologies.
Greater overall energy independence, higher renewable energy generation, and enhanced sustainability through a comprehensive and integrated approach to all energy-consuming sectors on the island.
Developing and emphasizing island-produced fuels to provide an energy source for both electric generation and transportation sectors.