BLUE PLANET FOUNDATION

Blue Planet's North Star is our theory of change: We seek to make Hawaii a model of clean energy progress so that we can inspire and catalyze climate solutions globally. As an isolated island state, Hawaii's energy challenges are more acute and its climate impacts more evident. Blue Planet is slowing the world that we can advance policies that protect our beautiful planet, further our clean energy and climate goals, boost the economy, and help communities thrive. Hawaii can prove technologies and concepts with the powerful potential for global scale and replication. And Hawaii can be the perfect testbed for new initiatives, programs, and progress on climate solutions.

To animate our theory of change, Blue Planet applies the following three strategic levers.

(1) Shaping policy: We’re trusted experts helping leaders make smart decisions about our energy future and drive systemic change, in Hawaii and beyond.

(2) Storytelling: We use viral videos, clever media campaigns, innovative presentations, and imaginative visuals to reshape our energy conversations. We tell stories that connect, inspire, and spark action.

(3) Impact programs: We execute select programs that drive systemic transformation, have the potential to scale, and reinforce our theory of change.

As pragmatic idealists, intrepid thinkers, and passionate creatives, Blue Planet doesn’t just talk about ideas. We work tirelessly and creatively to bring them to life. We seek to advance solutions that match the scale of the problem we face. To achieve our mission, we use the levers of bold policy and the power of storytelling to shift norms and create a culture for change.

Policy Shapers:
We are trusted experts helping leaders make smart decisions about our sustainable energy future, in Hawaii and beyond. Since 2008, we have driven key policy outcomes--from being early advocates for equity efforts like on-bill financing and community solar to championing Hawaii's first-in-the-nation 100% renewable energy and a tax on fossil fuel. Hawaii's youth are a cornerstone of our efforts to change the status quo. Our Climate Crew empowers cohorts of civically engaged youth climate experts inspired to help shape the future they will inherit. We seek to amplify students' voices and their power to drive the systems change our planet requires. In its first year, the Climate Crew completed over 60 acts of leaderships to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy.

Community Activators:
Our annual Student Energy Summit brings together more than 200 middle and high school students from across the state for an immersive clean energy, and climate learning experience. Students walk away with sharpened energy leadership and advocacy skills needed to participate in clean energy and climate action. We recently expanded the summit to welcome international students and build global connections among youth. To tackle carbon pollution in the transportation section, Blue Planet has worked to increase knowledge of the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) with our EV Expert certification program, which provides dealership sales associates with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the EV marketplace and gives customers the confidence of knowing they will have the best possible EV buying experience. We have certified over 70 EV Experts statewide to date.

Storytellers:
We use viral videos, clever social media campaigns, provocative presentations, and imaginative infographics to reshape our energy conversations. Our creative communications tell stories that connect, inspire, and spark action. For example, our We Are 100 campaign is showcasing 100 stories of individuals and businesses across Hawaii that are taking actions--big and small--to accelerate our transition to 100% clean energy. Through neighbors inspiring neighbor, we aim to bring everyone along on the journey to 100%. Blue Planet also tracks Hawaii's progress toward 100% clean energy through our Energy Report Card. The report card takes a systems-wide view of our challenges and opportunities across five sections: transportation, efficiency, renewables, smart grid, and economics.