Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced today that Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) at the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology has been selected to establish one of two National Marine Renewable Energy Research Centers.  The Department of Energy will provide a grant to HNEI of approximately $1 million per year for as many as five years to conduct renewable energy research and development of technologies that harness the power of waves and ocean thermal energy conversion.  This grant was made possible by Akaka provisions implemented into law as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 6). 

Senator Akaka said: "Surrounded by water and dependent on imported oil, Hawaii can and should be a leader in harnessing alternative energy from the ocean.  This award recognizes the talent and expertise of University of Hawaii researchers in marine renewable energy. These resources will further efforts to develop more reliable and cleaner energy that will help American families across the country, while increasing our nation's energy security."

Senator Inouye added: "The Hawaii Natural Energy Institute is highly regarded. I am pleased, as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to have helped secure funding for several of its other initiatives, including sustainable energy security and renewable energy development.  This grant for the Institute to conduct marine renewable energy research is further recognition of the Institute's ability to conduct high quality research in many fields involving energy development, with the potential for groundbreaking applications."   

These Centers are a public-private partnership that will assess and evaluate the viability and cost-competitiveness of using advanced water power systems. The Center in Hawaii will serve as a national information clearinghouse for the marine renewable energy industry that will collect and disseminate information on best practices in research. 

The Department of Energy is expected to award HNEI $978,048 later this year and exact funding will be determined for subsequent years thereafter.

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