Overview

In 2022, Hawai‘i retired its last coal plant, representing a significant milestone in Hawaii’s energy transition and an important step towards a decarbonized Hawai’i. However, the retirement of the coal plant was not without its significant challenges as many of the many of the renewable energy projects slated to replace the electricity from the coal plant had experienced ongoing delays that caused concern.

To address issues within the control of the State, in 2021, Governor David Ige established the Hawai‘i Powering Past Coal Task Force (PPCTF). The purpose of the PPCTF was to track and coordinate the progress of the projects and measures approved by the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that were needed to replace the coal plant’s output.

These projects and measures included a comprehensive portfolio of new solar and battery storage facilities, grid service technologies, and energy efficiency on the island, including, but not limited to:

• Utility-scale renewable energy projects.
• Community-based renewable energy projects.
• Distributed energy resources (rooftop photovoltaics and residential batteries).
• Demand response programs (automated energy savings for residences and businesses during peak periods).
• Enhanced and targeted energy efficiency measures.

The Task Force facilitated the reviews and implementation of renewable energy projects and the other identified measures on O‘ahu by coordinating stakeholder efforts and engaging entities with a key role in project permitting and site development to help prevent further delay of critical projects and programs.

The PPCTF was chaired by the Chief Energy Officer at the Hawai‘i State Energy Office (HSEO). Participants included the Public Utilities Commission; the Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Division of Consumer Advocacy; the Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection; the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting; Hawaiian Electric; Hawai‘i Energy; the developers of approved utility-scale renewable energy projects planned on O‘ahu; Earthjustice; Life of the Land; and Sierra Club of Hawai‘i.  

The Powering Past Coal Task Force was not a policy- or decision-making body and did not pursue statutory or administrative rule changes. Hawai‘i is a member of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, an international organization consisting of national and sub-national governments, businesses, and organizations committed to accelerating the transition from coal to clean energy.

COAL IN HAWAI’I

The Story Map, Turning the Page: A Story of Coal in Hawai’i provides readers with information on the history of coal use in Hawai’i, its impacts on global ecosystems, and the history behind coal’s eventual retirement.

MOVING FORWARD

Hawaiian Electric has selected many Stage 3 projects, which will have to go through similar permitting and approval processes. These projects are listed on HSEO’s Proposed Project List.

HRS §196 requires the HSEO to provide renewable energy project deployment facilitation to assist private sector project completion when aligned with state energy goals, accordingly, HSEO is poised to facilitate future renewable energy project development and the eventual retirement of all fossil fuel powerplants, using the lessons learned from the PPCTF.

MASTER SCHEDULE

To achieve its objectives, the Task Force maintains a Master Schedule, which provides a timeline and status summary of the PUC-approved measures and projects needed to replace the coal plant with renewable energy while also tracking the status of future projects under development. A copy is available for download at the link below. Past schedules are archived below.

Note: The schedule is evolving and is subject to future additions and changes. For the most up-to-date information on the status of each project, HSEO recommends referencing the PUC dockets and/or appropriate agencies regarding the status of their approvals. Links to these dockets and web pages are embedded within the schedule. Schedule publish dates are notated within the document; previously published schedules will be archived and made available to the public.

To date, a few projects remain to be completed; however, because all the remaining projects have passed permitting milestones, HSEO no longer convenes the Task Force but still tracks progress.