In light of ambitious US green targets, several states are moving towards renewable energy. For the Hawaiian islands, that means closing its last standing coal-powered facility.
This week, the Governor of Hawaii David Ige announced that the state’s last remaining coal-fuelled power plant had halted operations for good.
The arrival of the facility’s last coal shipment in July signalled a major turning point for Hawaii’s reliance on its most pollutant sources of energy. It also means that the state has succeeded in reaching its target to ban coal before the year 2023.
In the eyes of environmentalists and activists, the move is a positive one.
However, many critics are concerned that Hawaii’s renewable energy sector is not yet well-prepared enough to supply the nation with energy on its own.
This is hardly a shock to anyone, as the now-shut coal facility had supplied one-fifth of all electricity used on the island of Oahu for over 30 years. And despite its growing green sector, Hawaii will need to continue relying on fossil fuels to generate around half of the energy used on the island – at least for now.
Sounds a bit like one of its closest neighbours California, am I right?
Pouring water over the burning ashes of the coal industry will not come without consequences for locals, either.
With more-expensive oil picking up the slack from now-abandoned coal, citizens will face a 7 percent increase in electricity bills – something many will be unhappy with as the cost of living continues to rise.
Being a regulated monopoly, The Hawaiian Electric Company has said that there is not much they can do to keep prices low for consumers. It also means that (at least for now) Hawaii will remain the most reliant on petroleum out of all the American states.
Still, reducing the use of coal for energy is worth celebrating, as it accounted for over 40 percent of all CO2 emitted globally last year. By shutting the doors of the coal plant, 1.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases will be reduced in the atmosphere every year.
Hawaiian Gov. David Ige announced that turning away from cheap, but highly pollutant coal was entirely motivated by the need to protect the planet. This is because the people of Hawaii, like many other island nations, have started to experience the serious consequences of the climate crisis.
The cluster of islands located in the Pacific are witnessing almost every aspect of a changing climate, from rising sea levels that erode away at coastlines to coral bleaching caused by warmer ocean temperatures.
Extreme weather events such as strong storms and prolonged drought have also become more frequent, raising concerns over potential flooding and wildfires. This is why the green sector come-up in Hawaii – and elsewhere – must be hasty.
The good news is, Hawaii has a serious advantage when it comes to renewables. As a volcanic island located in the middle of the ocean, it has the ability to harness numerous sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy.
The state already generates close to 40 percent of its power through these resources, and it wouldn’t be a bad guess to say that – with continued growth, of course – Hawaii could one day join Iceland as a pioneer in the green sector.
Leaders from the clean energy division of the now-shut coal plant have already launched solar-projects across the state, including one in Oahu to be completed next year. Their vision of the future is one that sees energy in Hawaii becoming ‘cheap, very cheap, abundant, and renewable.’
With green investments made in the right areas, I don’t see why not!
Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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