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Authors’ note: On May 24 and 25, the convened stakeholders across the state’s energy sector on Maui — in person for the first time since before the pandemic. New ways of engagement lead the array of topics, from Molokai’s first community-based renewable energy project, to a new “participatory budgeting” model to determine community benefits.

Hawaii has a long history of community activism and a strong sense of place. As the state moves toward a clean energy future, strong community engagement is needed to guide more inclusive conversations to ensure utility-scale projects will benefit both residents and businesses.

With an influx of renewable energy projects necessary to reach Hawaii’s 100% renewable energy and decarbonization goals by 2045, a community-centered approach should be a priority when taking action to fulfill these worthy goals.

Recent examples such as Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative, Molokai’s first community-based renewable energy project, offer an inspiring example of what’s possible when a community is empowered to think critically about shaping its own renewable energy future.

One process that gives community members power is participatory budgeting, a model that can foster the growth of clean energy projects in Hawaii and encourages community collaboration with project developers, utility providers, and the public.

In January 2023, Ulupono Initiative and the Participatory Budgeting Project released a report on PB that dives deeper into how it can be used to benefit communities. In the forward, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair Leo Asuncion noted that “the time has come for a new model to not only cultivate support for clean energy projects in the Islands but, more importantly, empower communities as full participating partners in the development of renewable energy projects that directly impact them.”

As our report lays out, PB is a proven and effective process that ensures community members have a direct say in how public funds are spent. This may include community benefits, such as grants, sponsorships, scholarships, educational and cultural initiatives, and more. 

However, for it to be successful, equitable PB requires open communication regarding plans for future projects and initiatives, focused community outreach to people often left out of decision-making, and intentional process design with community members.

When the community is aware and involved in the decision-making process, it increases transparency between the public, developers, the utility, and government. With trust at the foundation of planning, each can discuss needs and priorities openly and objectively and put forward and vote on the most equitable, feasible and impactful projects in a community.

PB presents benefits for all parties. This community-led approach not only centers community members, it has the potential to increase the efficiency of utility planning.

It also gives energy stakeholders the opportunity to build relationships with communities resulting in a clear view of how to best implement and maintain future initiatives. When executed correctly, this approach would leave no room for ambiguity when analyzing which issues are at the forefront of community needs and ensures community voices are being heard.       

Engaging community members in the earliest stages of planning is one of the best ways to make sure a PB process shifts power to marginalized communities and creates equity. It’s important to acknowledge that the realities of Hawaii’s regulatory process require great investments of developers’ attention, time and effort — from requests for proposal to power purchase agreements — that may result in the PB process “pausing” while we await associated regulatory approvals to proceed. Early engagement supports the process of building awareness, buy-in and trust in the process.

Further, PB has the potential to reach those who do not typically participate in other civic processes, providing them with a chance to have a say in projects that will affect their community. Additionally, the PB model offers younger community members, not of voting age, an opportunity to engage with the civic process and have a positive first experience which, eventually, will shape how they view elections and other civic engagement moving forward. PB agents should focus on how to reach these underrepresented and disproportionately impacted community members and consider accessibility when deciding how to collect ideas to get the most holistic public view.

Future planning to reach Hawaii’s 100% clean energy goals should implement PB to engage community members and ensure a process power shift to marginalized communities to create equity and increase efficiency.

Read our PB report, titled “.”