Getting more electricity from Hawaii's windmills to homes will be the challenge facing national researchers planning to work in Hawaii.

Officials with UPC Wind Partners' Kaheawa Wind Farm on Maui and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory signed an agreement for the research project Monday.

The goal is to increase the integration of wind energy into Hawaii's utility system as the state attempts to move away from reliance on oil.

"This state can lead the nation in developing how one goes about doing dramatic changes in the energy system to get to levels of renewable energy adoption that are only a dream in other parts of the country," said Dan Arvizu, director for the Golden, Colo.-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Kaheawa Wind Farm will be the first partner site for the lab's wind technology program outside of Colorado.

The research will try to find ways to store wind energy when it isn't blowing and distribute it throughout the power grid.

"So many things are coming out of this little 200-acre site," said Paul Gaynor, president and CEO of UPC Wind. "We're trying to make the state more competitive, and we're trying to do that with lessening dependence on oil."

The partnership grew out of Hawaii's agreement with the federal government in January to attempt to make the islands a national model for how power from the sun, wind, waves and earth can be harnessed to light homes and fuel cars.

Hawaii is aiming to produce at least 70 percent of its own energy by 2030. It currently imports 90 percent of its energy and suffers from the highest gas prices in the nation.

"There's nothing sacrosanct about all production happening at one place, and all production coming out from one place," said Gov. Linda Lingle. "We need a broader perspective."

Experts also have been working to identify barriers to adoption of renewable energy, improve energy transmission and distribution, increase efficiency and examine transportation technologies like biofuels.