Hawaii

Hawaii becomes the second U.S. state committed to oil independence by joining the Better Place network

In many ways, Hawaii is already a trend-setter in the pursuit of energy independence: Governor Linda Lingle recently initiated the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a renewable energy plan designed to encourage the growth of green technology infrastructure. In an announcement that extends the state’s environmental leadership, Better Place said today that it will be partnering with Hawaii to make mass adoption of electric vehicles powered by renewable energy a reality in the state by 2012.

The state’s partnership with Better Place will play a significant role in the economic growth of Hawaii and will serve as a model for the rest of the U.S. for how green technology infrastructure can fuel job creation. The implementation of electric infrastructure will reignite the Hawaii economy with local jobs, while creating a model for renewable energy growth. It will also expose the millions of annual visitors to Hawaii to the real possibilities of life with clean energy and renewable fuel.

But the area of job creation isn’t the only best practice that can be learned from Hawaii. The project serves as a full blueprint for what can be accomplished across the U.S. in terms of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, growing our renewable energy portfolio and infrastructure development.

As the new administration prepares its energy policy agenda, we encourage President-elect Barack Obama to witness the model his home state is developing to create jobs and free the U.S. from its dependence on foreign oil. The current economic condition provides a great opportunity to retool the nation’s transportation and build the green infrastructure of the 21st century. By accelerating the conversion of the car industry to embracing electric vehicles, we can help Detroit transform to today’s consumer preferences, create millions of jobs, reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce CO2 emissions and improve our national trade balance.

Now is the time to confront the challenges of global climate change and oil dependency. The task at hand is not easy and will take time. However, as Hawaii takes the next step by becoming the fifth market in the world to roll out the Better Place business model, we’re beginning to see the world switch from the pump to the plug for transportation.

Read the Better Place Press Release.