Increasing markets and new opportunities for local production of ethanol, bio-diesel and bio-power will be discussed at the Hawaii Agriculture Bioenergy Workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, October 27, 2006 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The workshop is open to the general public including farmers, landowners, the business community, renewable energy advocates and others who seek speed expansion of Hawaii’s bioenergy industry by bridging the gap between policy and implementation.

The Hawaii Legislature recently established a 20% Alternative Fuels Standard (AFS) by 2020. This new goal, with the 20% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for electricity and 10% ethanol mandate, is focusing attention on Hawaii’s capacity for local production of biofuels and bio-power.

“Our goals are to inform stakeholders about recent legislation, publicize federal and state incentives and funding opportunities, increase collaboration and develop action steps to keep the momentum going on bioenergy crop production,” said Charles Kinoshita, Associate Dean, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, one of the workshop organizers.

Panel and speaker topics include: “The Demand for Bioenergy Now and Future,”  “Incentives to Meet the Challenge,” “Hawaii’s Bioenergy Research,” “Hawaii Crop Production Opportunities: What grows, what flows, what burns,” followed by breakouts and a summary session.

Workshop organizers include the Hawaii Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum Sponsorship funding is provided by Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and the U.S. Department of Energy,

This one-day workshop will follow Ag2006 Maximizing Your Bottom Line, the annual Hawaii Agriculture Conference, also at the Hilton. 

Registration is $50 per person, including lunch. To register online, or for more information, go to www.agconference.org or call 947-2914.