NaHHA is proud to share an article from one of our Lamakū Hoʻokipa who exemplify the value of mālama and are making meaningful impacts as contributing members of the Native Hawaiian community.
Hawaiʻi made history in 2015 as the first state to adopt an energy policy to transition from a predominantly imported oil-based energy system to 100% clean energy sources by 2045. However, progress has been frustratingly slow.
Of Hawaiʻi’s six main islands, Oʻahu houses 70% of the state’s population and is facing an escalating energy reliability crisis. The clock is ticking, and an urgent response is required.
Recently, 20% of Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) generation fleet was offline or operating at a significantly reduced capacity. Blackouts are an escalating concern.
The record for the largest HECO blackout was on Jan. 8, 2024, when rolling blackouts affected about 120,000 customers across two dozen communities on Oʻahu.
Oʻahu is more reliant on imported oil than anywhere else in the country. Due to the use of low-sulfur fuel oil – the most polluting of all energy sources – 67% of Oʻahu’s electricity is produced by burning oil, resulting in the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., given the island’s population.
The negative framework of Oʻahu’s dominant oil burning system is highlighted by the highest electricity costs in the nation at three times the national average, an aging grid system leading to an increasingly unreliable energy network, and escalating pollution.
The oil-based model struggles to meet increasing energy demands driven by Oʻahu’s urban economic growth. The continuing reliance on foreign oil imports keeps delaying the launch of large-scale renewable energy projects or the upgrade of Oʻahu’s power plants.
Hawaiʻi’s options for natural energy production include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. The state is actively developing these renewable sources to reduce its reliance on imported oil.
It’s good news that Gov. Josh Green’s administration adopted the Alternative Fuels, Repowering, and Energy Transition Study, which outlines a practical path forward. The new strategy prioritizes reducing dependency on oil and expanding renewable energy sources by importing natural gas as a short-term fuel transition strategy that would immediately cut costs, lower carbon emissions, and improve grid reliability.
Natural gas would function as a temporary replacement for oil while transitioning to a platform of renewable energy sources.
Meanwhile, the state is actively developing its renewable resources to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Switching from oil to natural gas offers significant cost savings of about 15% for ratepayers, saving the average household approximately $340 a year.
Some critics argue that investing in natural gas would slow down the incorporation of renewables. The reality is the opposite. This plan escalates the transition.
Adopting a balanced approach to our energy strategy that incorporates natural gas to reduce costs and emissions in the short term while simultaneously scaling up renewables is a strategic option that would create a more affordable and sustainable future for Oʻahu. But the transition requires extraordinary leadership from HECO and the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office.
Meanwhile, islands such as Kauaʻi have successfully integrated renewable sources into their systems, lowering costs and reducing reliance on imported oil. I mua e Oʻahu!
