Gov. Josh Green wrapped up his weeklong visit to Japan on Monday by joining Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki in signing a five-year memorandum of cooperation on clean energy.
What You Need To Know
The memorandum of cooperation, which focuses on shared goals for renewable energy, clean transportation and grid innovation, effectively renews a partnership between Hawaii State Energy Office and the Okinawa Prefectural Government that was first established in 2010
The Hawaii delegation’s visit coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Hawaii–Okinawa sister-state relationship and the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Hawaii
Last week in Tokyo, Green met with senior leaders from NEC Corporation, JERA Co. Inc. and the Yomiuri Shimbun Group to discuss opportunities in technology, energy and tourism
Green signed a strategic partnering agreement establishing a “framework for cooperation” between the state, JERA Co. Inc., (Japan’s largest power-generation company) and JERA Americas Inc.
The agreement, which focuses on shared goals for renewable energy, clean transportation and grid innovation, effectively renews a partnership between the Hawaii State Energy Office and the Okinawa Prefectural Government that was first established in 2010.
“Hawaii and Okinawa share more than history,” Green said. “We share purpose. Together, we’re proving that island communities can lead the world in clean energy and resilience, while honoring the cultural ties that bind us.”
The visit coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Hawaii–Okinawa sister-state relationship and the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Hawaii.
Green was accompanied on his Japan visit by first lady Jaime Kanani Green and a delegation of state lawmakers and business leaders that included state Senate President Ronald Kouchi; state House Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama; Sens. Glenn Wakai, Chris Lee and Michelle Kidani; Reps. Gregg Takayama, Dee Morikawa and Kyle Yamashita; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism director James Kunane Tokioka and Hawaii State Energy Office director Mark Glick.
The tour started in Tokyo, where Green met with senior leaders from NEC Corporation, JERA Co. Inc. and the Yomiuri Shimbun Group to discuss opportunities in technology, energy and tourism. While there, Green signed a strategic partnering agreement establishing a “framework for cooperation” between the state, JERA Co. Inc., (Japan’s largest power-generation company) and JERA Americas Inc. The agreement will support the state’s decarbonization goals and clean energy initiatives outlined in the state Energy Office’s Alternative Fuels, Repowering and Energy Transition study.
“Japan remains one of Hawaii’s most important partners in energy, commerce, education and people-to-people exchange,” Green said. “This mission reaffirms our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and friendship that extends far beyond the Pacific.”
Green returns to Honolulu on Wednesday following a stop in San Francisco, where he will speak at the Salesforce Dreamforce Conference.
Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.
AloJapan.com