Last Coal Plant in Hawaii Closes, State Sets Road to 100% Renewable Energy by 2045

To use 100% renewable energy by the year 2045, the state of Hawaii recently shut down its last coal plant.

The closure is a part of their effort to use more renewable energy sources and use fewer fossil fuels like coal and oil.

For 30 years, the coal plant had been in operation. It generated up to 20% of the electricity needed on Oahu, the island with the highest population in Hawaii. Almost 1.5 million people are living in the state.

100% Renewable Energy by 2024

A law was passed by Hawaii's legislature in 2020 that forbids using coal for energy production beginning in 2023. By 2045, Hawaii, the first state to make this move, wants to use only renewable energy sources.

David Ige, the governor of Hawaii, recently stated that lowering greenhouse gases is truly important. According to scientists, greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere of the Earth trap heat and help to warm the atmosphere. The power plant, according to Ige, emits 1.5 million metric tons of GHG annually.

Painful Effects of Climate Change

The Hawaiian Islands, according to residents of the state, have felt the impact of climate change. As a result of rising sea temperatures, intense storms, and drought that increase the risk of wildfires in the state, these effects also include damage to coral reefs.

But not everyone agrees that shutting down the power plant would be a good idea. They claim that since the coal plant is no longer operational, the state will now need to burn more oil. Additionally, oil currently costs a lot more than coal while producing roughly the same volume of pollution.

The cost of living and energy is highest in Hawaii, USA. According to Hawaii Electric Company's estimates, switching from coal to oil will result in a 7% increase in consumer electricity costs. Later, after hearing about lower oil prices, it reduced the estimate to 4%.

Senator Glenn Wakai of the Democratic Party claimed that Hawaii was moving from using the least expensive fossil fuel to using the most overpriced fossil fuel. He added that today is a terrible day for people who have to pay an electric bill.

Hawaii is the eleventh state to stop using coal to generate electricity. Global Energy Monitor, a group that encourages the use of renewable energy worldwide, provided that information.

US Coal Plants

In the United States, there were approximately 1,100 coal-burning power plants in 2001. Since then, more than half have ceased operations, with the majority switching to natural gas.

About 40% of Hawaii's energy comes from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy. But over half of its electricity comes from oil.

Republican state senator Kurt Fevella represents his party. He suggested that some of the additional costs of switching to renewable energy should be covered by Hawaiian Electric Company and other energy providers.

The sole supplier of electricity in the state is Hawaiian Electric Company. It claimed that because it doesn't set prices, there isn't much it can do to alter what consumers pay. According to Jim Kelly, a company representative, they lose money on the fuel sources that are used to produce electricity.

Hawaii's Last Coal Plant

The final coal-fired power plant in Hawaii is run by AES Corporation. Renewable energy sources are becoming more affordable every day, according to Leonardo Moreno, the president of AES Corporation's clean energy division. He continued by saying he could picture a time when renewable energy was cheap and plentiful.

Hawaii's chief energy officer is Scott Glenn. He claimed that the price of coal was rising. He claimed that Indonesian rainforests were cleared for coal in Hawaii.

They are already noticing the impacts of climate change, according to Glenn. He argued that if Hawaii does not contribute as well, it is unfair to ask other nations or states to combat climate change. Later, he claimed that not helping means drowning, VOA News reports.