Josh Strickler, chief researcher at the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission who has been a leader in renewable energy policy, is joining HawaiiGas at the end of the month. 

He told Civil Beat that he was leaving the state regulatory office to aid efforts to bring natural gas to Hawaii and help reduce electricity costs for Hawaii residents.

The state currently has a goal of achieving 40 percent renewable energy by 2030, but Strickler said that he expected electricity costs to remain high for ratepayers. Hawaii’s electricity rates are about triple the national average, mainly because of the state’s dependence on oil. (Mainland states primarily use lower cost options such as coal and natural gas for electricity.)

“The thing that concerns me is that we are not paying a lot of attention to the 60 percent that is left behind,” he said of the clean energy goal that would leave residents still reliant on imported oil. “And if we ignore that we are going to be in a lot of trouble.”

Strickler’s new title will be counsel for external affairs. 

You can read Civil Beat’s coverage of the recent push to begin importing natural gas to Hawaii here:

Is Natural Gas a new Energy Source for Hawaii?

Can Natural Gas Solve Hawaii’s Energy Woes?

Abercrombie Asks HECO to Look Toward Natural Gas

Could Alaska’s Natural Gas Help Power Hawaii?