MEDIA RELEASE

Aligning Abercrombie Administration initiatives to enhance public access to state government resources, streamline information and promote alternative energy, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) Hawaii State Energy Office today launched an improved website (energy.hawaii.gov) along with new accounts for Twitter (@EnergyHawaiiGov) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/HawaiiStateEnergyOffice).

“In recent years, the State Energy Office has produced and provided an abundance of online resources and self-help tools,” Richard Lim, DBEDT Director, said.

“The revamped website is designed to help potential investors, developers, stakeholders and policy makers, and the public easily navigate and locate key information on Hawaii’s clean energy portfolio.”

With the URL remaining at energy.hawaii.gov, the upgraded website features improved site navigation of the Hawaii State Energy Office’s top programs, including GEMS (Green Energy Market Securitization), Energy Savings Performance Contracting in the Efficiency section and Project Permitting Assistance.

Users will also be able to access the online suite of self-help tools such as the Renewable EnerGIS Map for analyzing the renewable energy potential of sites statewide and the Renewable Energy Permitting Wizard that helps proposed projects understand the various required permits.

“Our intent is for the energy industry, media and community to view the updated energy.hawaii.gov website as their primary resource for Hawaii-focused clean energy solutions and opportunities,” Mark Glick, State Energy Administrator, said. “It’s a great way to stay connected with what’s happening in Hawaii’s fast-moving clean energy landscape.”

The revamped website is maintained by the state’s Information and Communication Services Division (ICSD) of the Department of Accounting and General Services. The Twitter and Facebook accounts are managed by the division’s communications staff.

“As demonstrated by the State Energy Office’s site, the state’s online transformation will provide increased transparency and a better flow of information for the public,” Sonny Bhagowalia, State of Hawaii Chief Information Officer, said.

“This builds on the website modernization project completed earlier this year that included the redesign of all state department websites. Over the next six months, all state-attached agency websites will be redesigned to this new format.”