Blue Planet Foundation Statement on Hawaii’s Renewable Energy Progress

Renewable Energy Becomes Primary Source of Electricity on Two Hawaiian Islands

HONOLULU (Feb. 16, 2021)—For the first time in Hawaii’s modern history, renewable energy accounts for more than half of the electric power on not one but two islands. This news comes as Hawaiian Electric reports that it has exceeded the 2020 state mandate for 30% renewable energy and reached a 34.5% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) across their Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Oahu service area—a significant increase over 2019’s 28.4% RPS. These numbers show promise for Hawaii’s transition to clean energy by 2045.

While Kauai continues to lead the way for the state with an estimated 60% RPS in 2020, Maui reached the halfway mark at 50.8%. In fact, when adding the Garden Isle’s impressive clean energy progress to Hawaiian Electric’s growth, Hawaii is currently operating off of nearly 36% renewable energy statewide.

Blue Planet Foundation, the nonprofit that led the advocacy campaign to pass Hawaii’s first-in-the-nation 100% renewable energy law, is excited to see renewables become the majority and dirty fossil fuel switch roles to become the “alternative energy” on Maui and Kauai. To put it simply, every time someone flips a light switch on those islands, more than half of the time, it is being powered by local, clean energy sources.
While this marks major progress for Hawaii and helps build a more resilient future, Blue Planet remains committed to continuing its work to accelerate Hawaii’s transition away from imported fossil fuels. During the 2021 legislative session, Blue Planet is prioritizing a portfolio of policy solutions to accelerate this evolution while simultaneously recovering from the pandemic. For more information on the transition to renewables and to view Blue Planet’s 2021 clean energy policy priorities, please visit blueplanetfoundation.org/2021-legislative-priorities.