Friends of NELHA (FON) a 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization located on the Big Island at Keahole Point, home of the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority (NELHA) an innovative ocean research, business and technology park. Our mission is to provide education and outreach programs which inspire a positive public perception of sustainability and self‐sufficiency in research and business and for all Hawaiians. The FON Vision is to provide education and outreach to coastal communities encouraging responsible use of renewable resources for energy, aquaculture and related sustainable projects.
Mission of FON:
The Friends of NELHA mission is to support public education and outreach highlighting innovative technological approaches using resources available at NELHA, collaborating with partners globally to disseminate appropriate technologies and to promote environmentally sound and culturally sensitive resource use.
Purpose of FON:
FON's Ambassador Program consisting of local resident volunteers who provide enthusiastic and informative presentations to visitors at NELHA and other community events. FON has created a visitor experience at the Gateway with the goal of educating the public about food and energy self‐sufficiency for Hawai'i using clean local resources.
Current FON Activities:
The activities currently underway at NELHA is intricate to the objective of Eco Effect to educate and showcase renewable energy projects throughout Hawai'i. As an island state with no indigenous fossil fuel resources, Hawai'i has a need to encourage renewable energy technologies. Hawai'i already ranks high among states measuring non‐hydro renewable energy as a percentage of total energy consumed. Currently there are 50 trained Ambassadors who work conservatively 1400‐1500 hours annually doing presentations to over 4000 individuals at the new Hawai'i Gateway Energy Center.
Also, there are two new exhibits showcasing solar energy have been constructed. One is a test of a focused solar system by SolFocus which is three times more effective than photovoltaic panels. In 2010, the workshops are to be held at various locations around Hawai'i County to allow for the widest range of citizens to take advantage of this project. There will also be additional information to address commercial auditing and efficiency issues. The work being done at NELHA is expected to increase investment and more development of Hawai'i's abundant natural resources. And with Eco Effect NELHA and its tenants and partners will become more visible and to all residents and investors.
Prior FON Activities:
Since 2001 FON has developed supportive presentation materials including video shorts, laminated and labeled color photos, special scientific props and a Power Point presentation focusing on renewable energy in Hawai'i.
In 2009, FON produced the “Energy Efficiency and Auditing Workshop” to introduce and educate residents and business owners of the benefits of energy efficiency and introduced solar energy systems and available tax credits. FON focused its presentation on helping to educate residents and visitors to the islands about becoming more self‐sufficient in food, electricity generation and fuel production.
Assistance on the project came from the Hawai'i Community College Office of Continuing Education. The workshops were aimed at all socio‐economic levels specifically to educate residents and business owners about the advantages of renewable energy systems and measuring loads to control and reduce energy usage while increasing energy efficiency. Other NELHA demonstrations on solar thermal energy systems presented by SoPoGy. And a new cold‐water agriculture raised garden at the Gateway was also constructed in early 2008.
Accomplishments of FON:
Through initial construction funding from a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), the NELHA Gateway provides the opportunity and foundation for a national test bed dedicated to development, testing, demonstration and deployment of cutting edge distributed energy technologies.
NELHA serves as an incubator for companies focused on renewable/distributed energy generation and related fields, the development of industry partnerships is a key program element. National partners will advance market penetration overseas thereby bridging U.S. technology with Asia‐Pacific needs.
Existing hybrid energy projects and community support allow Hawai'i to be a leader in the nation as a model for research, development, demonstration and deployment of distributed renewable energy projects. In a joint effort between the states of New Mexico and Hawai'i made possible through a partnership with NELHA and New Mexico Tech an Integrated Distributed Generation Applications and Deployment Program was initiated in November 2001, the Senate Appropriations Committee authorized $0.5million for this effort in its Fiscal Year 2002 Departments of Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.
NELHA has a proven success record in developing and executing education and outreach opportunities for K‐12, post‐secondary, while respecting the rights and cultures of Native Hawaiians. Other factors including NELHA's facility with access to both deep cold and warm surface seawater, high solar insulation, location adjacent to the Kona International Airport, and proximity to Kailua‐Kona and South Kohala resorts also lend support to successful situating of the facility and program. Eco Effect will draw from the strength of NELHA's current positioning and past accomplishments to become a reliable voice for promoting a sustainable Hawai'i.
