Hawaii was barely a half-century into statehood when in 2015 it set the nation’s first mandate to free itself from fossil fuels.
Now experts say that decarbonization goal could be at odds with a renewed push to bring natural gas to the state by a patchwork coalition that includes the Trump administration, Japan’s largest power company and Democratic Gov. Josh Green.
The group aims to invest billions of dollars in natural gas infrastructure on Oahu, Hawaii’s most populous island, as a way to add more reliability to the state’s aging electrical grid. But opponents warn the move could lock-in a planet-warming power source that will imperil the state’s long-term climate goals.
“I don’t see any way how a commitment to extending our dependence on imported fuels outside of our control meets the spirit and the letter of the law,” said state Sen. Chris Lee (D), who sponsored the 2015 climate measure.
