Business Challenges, Business Opportunities, and the New Energy Reality

June 6, 2008

Individual consumers and local businesses are feeling the "crunch" of rising fuel costs.  For some of us, our employees are telling us that they can barely afford the gas money to come to work.  What do we have to know and what can we do to preserve prosperity in the face of rapidly changing circumstances?

At the request of private and public sector leaders, The Kohala Center designed this one day session to explore critical business issues with energy experts and economists, as we all confront the new and harsh energy reality.  This session was designed specifically for the Hawaii Island business community and was
co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Island Chamber of Commerce, the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. 

Talks and panel discussions with national and local experts covered the following topics:

*        Economic implications of the rising prices of liquid fossil fuel in Hawaii, in the U.S., and in the international arena
*        The importance of acting quickly and collaboratively to increase the use of renewable energy resources on Hawaii Island
*        Regulatory barriers and potential solutions to deploying renewable energy 
*        Transport challenges and opportunities in the public and private sectors
*        Business opportunities and investments to take advantage of the new
energy reality.

Image credit: Seapics.com