Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz leaves today for a one week trip to Asia.

Schatz will meet with industrial leaders in Japan and Asia to discuss partnerships to help secure Hawaii’s clean energy future and expand its green economy.

The trip strengthens alliances made during last fall’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Honolulu. These alliances make Hawaii a leading incubator for the global clean energy industry, Schatz says.

The lieutenant governor adds that it’s important to build on those relationships to help Hawaii reach its goal of becoming 70 percent energy independent by 2030.

Over the past year, Gov. Neil Abercrombie formalized an agreement with Japanese officials to establish the $37 million Smart Grid Demonstration Project on Maui and agreed to pursue a smart grid demonstration with Korea.