Biofuels could advance agriculture, energy goals

In 2015, the state of Hawaii spent $5.7 billion on imported oil. Up to 70 percent of each barrel goes toward transportation fuels while 30 percent goes toward electricity. The state Energy Office states that Hawaii’s most important economic enterprise is developing a clean energy economy.

In an effort to address our energy security needs, the increasing electricity costs, volatile price shocks and potential supply shortages, the state Legislature in 2009 enacted the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. This initiative aimed to supply 70 percent of electricity needs using clean sources by 2030; in 2016, this has been increased to 100 percent by 2045. Tax incentives were created to support energy security and sustainability. All of this for 30 percent of each barrel.

What about the other 70 percent? Displacing imported oil with a proven renewable source of locally grown, converted and distributed fuel would significantly improve Hawaii’s energy security, sustainability and economy.

Bills and resolutions in the Legislature today call for adding transportation fuels to the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (House Bill 1580); and a pilot project to demonstrate viability of biofuels sector (Senate Bill 237), which I wrote as well as a resolution for Hawaii Green Fuels Initiative.

This legislation is not just about renewable fuel; they are about jobs and cost of living. With the development of a biofuels industry in Hawaii, we could support farmers and increase food production; replace lost jobs from the sugar cane industry; develop a sustainable manufacturing sector; and support the further development of infrastructure.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation created a sustainable transportation forum to focus on renewable fuels. Commercial Alternative Aviation Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) and the U.S. Department of Defense, Pacific Command (PACOM) and the U.S. Navy’s Great Green Fleet and Green Initiative for Fuel Transition for the Pacific (GIFTPAC) have expressed strong desire for a green fuel locally as well as nationally and internationally. The Defense Logistics Agency, who purchases the fuel for DOD, said, “if you make operation volumes, we will buy it.”

During transportation and biofuel forum events in 2016, the annual VERGE panel coordinated by the state Energy Office and RIMPAC, all stakeholders agreed that alternative and biofuels are the future.

Because the state of Hawaii does not currently have a manufacturing sector, the increase of food production would create food storage, hub/depoting centers and processing plants. The development of a dedicated biofuel supply chain would create feedstock hub/depoting centers, pre-processing and conversion refinery plants.

Coinciding food production with biofuel feedstock production would create a needed economy of scale for both to experience growth by providing a baseline revenue for qualifying farmers, which would have the added benefit of lowering the overall costs of local food production, as well provide the much-needed feedstock sourcing for the fuel conversion technologies.

Some people believe that this would lead to growing fuel over food. There are various ways to provide for both. First, there is approximately 250,000 square feet of usable agricultural land still available in Hawaii. Second, we can link the buffer zones with biofuel feedstock growth. Third, we would only allow a percentage of each farmers crops to produce biofuel feedstock.

The advancement of a vibrant bio-economy and biofuels supply chain in Hawaii could help address the lost jobs from plantation and refinery closures as well as mitigate the risks of petroleum supply and price shocks. Initiatives such as the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative have developed and created industries and jobs throughout Hawaii with the creation of friendly policy such as new market, high technology and renewable energy tax credits.

Carl Campagna is a renewable energy consultant and project manager.