Governing Green Power: Realigning Institutions to Fit New Technologies

Electrical Engineering Asst. Prof. Matthias Fripp worked with Michael Roberts, Dick Pratt and Makena Coffman from the College of Social Sciences to host a conference at the University of Hawaii called “Governing Green Power: Realigning Institutions to Fit New Technologies” on Mar. 28–30. This conference brought together local, national and international experts in electricity regulation and markets to address the challenges in moving toward a fair, low-cost power system with large shares of renewable energy. Participants explored whether there was a need for institutional change in the electricity sector in response to new challenges posed by renewable energy, and, if so, how to accomplish that change. Local participants included UH faculty and graduate students, as well as senior staff from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Division of Consumer Advocacy, Hawaiian Electric Company, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, several planning and advocacy organizations and regulatory law firms. The conference’s opening session was attended by Governor Ige, and the closing session was attended by PUC Commissioner Tom Gorak.