Strategy & Planning

Visiting Hawaiian Electric

Unique Renewable Goals

Perhaps the highest of the high points of visiting Hawaiian Electric and Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission was when Commission chair Jay Griffin announced during the pre-hearing conference we attended that "the Mitnicks" of Public Utilities Fortnightly were sitting in, as welcome guests of the Commission. (One Mitnick had flown in from Washington, D.C., the other from Tokyo.) Or perhaps when we watched the moving Hawaiian blessing of the West Loch Solar Project of Hawaiian Electric and the U.S. Navy.

Federal Stimulus

Time to Bring Out the Secret Sauce Again?

Smartening the grid over the last decade-plus has been a great achievement. And one that we owe in large part to the stimulating effect of the ARRA.

What Hawaii Tells Us

Status Quo to Status Whoa

In the event of a catastrophic typhoon, so much of Hawaii's critical infrastructure is situated at sea level. The status quo is therefore risky to stick with.

Broader Innovation Insights

Engaging Market Collaborators

Third-party collaboration relationships should be designed to provide benefits to customers, such as tangible advantages that enhance business choices about energy resources or fit the needs for energy awareness at the premise.

Curing the Analytical Bias

Replacing Discount Rate Driven NPV with IRR Analysis

NPV analysis relies on the selected discount rate. The selected discount rate can affect the outcome of the analysis. Thus, the introduction of a new metric; the differential internal rate of return (DIRR), and its expected value are discussed.

Electrify Everything?

Heat and Light in Deep Decarbonization Policies

This article attempts to highlight some of the logical disconnects and omissions in the current electrification debate. The author has no conflict of interest in this analysis and is strongly supportive of deep decarbonization policies.