MEDIA RELEASE

State Representative Denny Coffman (District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau), who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, announced today that he has received a certificate in Energy Policy from the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, a partnership between The Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), the National Conference of State Legislatures, the University of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Institute was created to educate state lawmakers on the infrastructure and delivery systems of North American energy resources.

Participating legislators are often chairs of committees within their respective state legislatures and are responsible for developing state energy policies.

The 18-month program focuses on issues associated with energy, natural gas and petroleum infrastructure; regulation governing this infrastructure, and interdependencies.

“It is critical that we in Hawaii obtain a more comprehensive understanding of energy issues, and the nuts and bolts of infrastructure and delivery systems, as we strive to develop the best policies for the islands,” Coffman said.

“Developing more efficient energy systems is one of the most important issues that each state faces for the future,” he said. “The policies we adopt today will impact the cost of energy and the way we consume energy for generations to follow.”

As part of the program, Coffman completed 60 credit hours of webinar training and coursework, including two out-of-state seminars.

He traveled to Portland, Ore. for an fout-day workshop last July, and to Washington, D.C. for the final training and graduation during June 14-16.

The graduating class of 37 lawmakers from the United States and Canada received their certificates at the Canadian Embassy on Saturday, June 16.

“Legislators learn how our energy infrastructure actually works and is built, including the resources they can access to make better energy policy decisions,” said Jeff Morris, Director of the institute. Information on the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute and the graduating class of 2012 can be found here:

— Find out more:
www.pnwer.org/energyhorizon/Institute.aspx
www.pnwer.org/energyhorizon/Institute/20112012Institute.aspx