Despite all the trouble in the economy and in the 2009 session, there are signs for a better year ahead for tech. Let's review some of them.

NEW WORKGROUP

The workgroup organized by Sen. Carol Fukunaga and Rep. Angus McKelvey has been trying to shape new tech initiatives in the wake of 221. It was initially comprised of the speakers at the ThinkTech Rebuilding in 2010 program, but now includes other members from industry and government. Their subgroups are in Financing, Enabling Environment, R&D credits, Renewables and Creative Media.

The group has come up with an array of programs and bills that will be presented to legislators at a ThinkTech program we're calling Crucible 2010 on Jan. 19, the day before Opening Day. Some of them will do better than others.

The impediment, of course, is the lack of money. But maybe, just maybe, the group can come up with programs and bills that will rebuild a tech initiative even without the kind of money and tax credits we had in earlier years. For the flier, see tinyurl.com/crucible2010.

CHANGES AT HSTC

Dr. Keiki-Pua Dancil will present opening remarks at Crucible 2010. That's because in January she'll be the new CEO of the Hawaii Science and Technology Council. She's an excellent choice.

Dancil is a board member at HSTC with notable experience in tech and business development. She was executive vice president of Hawaii Chitopure (now merged into Synedgen, a new biotech company in California) and has been director of research at Trex Hawaii and a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of Tissue Genesis. She holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from UCSD and an MBA from Harvard.

Welcome, Keiki-Pua. We wish you well in your new position at HSTC. We also extend thanks and appreciation to Lisa Gibson, founder and outgoing CEO, for her years of service.

PERMITS GRANTED

Although DLNR's permitting process is as difficult as it gets, Hawaii Oceanic Technology was successful in getting a permit for its open ocean 'ahi aquaculture project off North Kohala, and Hukilau Foods was successful in getting permits to expand its open ocean moi operations off 'Ewa. Kudos to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for granting these permits, even under pressure from anti-progress groups.

In another case, NoriTech Hawaii, an Israeli algae research company, obtained a permit from the Board of Agriculture to import algae for nutraceuticals at Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority. Kudos to the board for granting this permit, despite pressure from the anti-progress groups, and to NoriTech for sticking it out over a two-year delay.

We still have miles to go to make HRS Chapter 343 (the Hawai'i Environmental Protection Act) work in the 21st century, and to deal with those who prefer to treat the act as a weapon to stop all progress rather than to protect the environment. But these decisions are clearly signs of hope.

OCEANS OF ENERGY

One of the more positive things the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has done in recent years is to hire Ted Peck and Josh Strickler to work on renewables. Their biggest project is the undersea cable intended to connect Maui, Läna'i, Moloka'i and O'ahu. We can't do statewide renewables without a statewide grid.

The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology has completed its ocean floor survey and recommended four routes among those islands, so it now appears that the cable is physically possible. DBEDT issued a request for proposals to local and Mainland prospects, and proposals to do the EIS are due Jan. 14. The multimil-lion-dollar cost of the EIS is being paid with stimulus funds that must be spent by April 2012. That's why they're moving quickly.

Strickler will appear on Doug Carlson's Energy Futures on KIPO at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

LOOKING AHEAD

Many people wince when you say next year will be better for tech in Hawai'i, especially after what happened in the 2009 session. They don't think it'll be any better.

But better is largely subjective, and if we think it'll be better, the chances are that it will. Maybe this is the year that the public and the Legislature will realize that like it or not, Hawai'i's future is dependent on technology and they'd better do something about it.

Jay Fidell is a business lawyer practicing in Honolulu. He has followed tech and tech policy closely and is a founder of ThinkTech Hawaii. Check out his blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs