BeyondKONA: Energy
Not since the Industrial Age has the opportunity for change in energy been as great as it is today. There is now a transformation from dirty, extraction-based fossil-fuel energy fuels now imported into Hawai’i, but choices we make as to acceptable “renewable energy” options will have positive or negative consequences and costs to Hawaii’s population and environment.
One thing is certain: $5 trillion dollars annually in global taxpayer subsidies of the fossil fuel (dirty energy) sector is unsustainable, and by any measurement, economically and environmentally, a costly and false economy. (2016-17 World Bank – IMF reports).
Zero emissions energy sources are driving new cost and performance efficiencies and environmental benefits for Hawai’i and that can propel the state’s transformation to a clean energy driven global economy. Hawaii’s abundant sun, wind, water, and geothermal energy assets are Hawaii’s mana.
- California orders utilities to add 6 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2032by Diana DiGangi on February 27, 2026 at 3:06 pm
“Eligible new resources must be either zero-emitting or otherwise eligible under the [renewables portfolio standard] program,” according to the California […]
- Efficiency first: A fast track to capacity in the era of hyperscalersby Paige Knutsen and Erin Kempster on February 27, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Prioritizing demand-side management before committing billions to new infrastructure mitigates risks for utilities and their customers, according to a pair of […]
- PSEG sees investment opportunity as NJ eyes adding in-state generationby Ethan Howland on February 27, 2026 at 1:04 pm
A bill was introduced this week in the New Jersey Legislature that would require a solicitation for gas-fired generation.
- Most US coal plants could meet air pollution rules. Trump weakened them anywayby Oliver Milman on February 27, 2026 at 12:30 pm
EPA found only 27 of 219 plants needed upgrades; 71 later got exemptions as Donald Trump scrapped mercury limitsAlmost all coal-fired power plants in the US […]
- Democrats urge dropping plan to double gas exports as US energy prices soarby Dharna Noor on February 26, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Families are ‘struggling with cost of heating their homes’, letter says as Trump repeatedly pledges to slash utility billsAs energy prices for US […]
- Drax to stop burning controversial Canadian wood within next yearby Jillian Ambrose on February 26, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Yorkshire plant has been criticised for taking material from some of British Columbia’s most environmentally important forestsThe owner of Drax power plant […]
- Illinois’ new renewables plan compensates for OBBBA lossesby Diana DiGangi on February 26, 2026 at 4:43 pm
The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a long-term renewable resources procurement plan with contract-level provisions aimed at reducing financial barriers […]
- House passes bills to weaken DOE’s appliance efficiency program, repeal home rebatesby Robert Walton on February 26, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Consumer advocates lamented the votes. “Efficiency rules are incredibly popular because they save families money on their utility bills,” said Dylan Jaff […]
- More interregional transmission could save consumers billions: studyby Ethan Howland on February 26, 2026 at 2:25 pm
However, East Coast generators would see reduced revenue, giving them an incentive to oppose new transmission lines, researchers said.
- Governors are promising lower power bills. Here’s the only credible path to deliver.by Jigar Shah and Arnab Pal on February 26, 2026 at 2:00 pm
If we treat every new megawatt like it must be served with new poles, wires, substations and peakers, we will lock in another decade of rate shock, write […]
- Xcel must begin pole replacement in Texas as court weighs Smokehouse Creek fire lawsuitby Emma Penrod on February 26, 2026 at 2:00 pm
An injunction requires Xcel Energy to inspect no fewer than 35,000 poles per year and replace those considered a fire risk within a court-mandated time […]
- Calls to move England’s home insulation scheme into council workers’ handsby Fiona Harvey Environment editor on February 26, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Thinktank proposes councils stop using private contractors in attempt to improve quality and spendingCouncils should train up their own workers to install […]
- ‘Magic beneath the surface’: pioneering geothermal plant launched in Cornwallby Steven Morris on February 26, 2026 at 6:00 am
A new mini power station and lithium extraction facility near Redruth are set to bolster green energy and create jobsJust outside the perimeter fence stand the […]
- Judge orders Greenpeace to pay $345m over Dakota Access pipeline protestby Associated Press in Bismarck on February 25, 2026 at 11:55 pm
Group says case far from over after being found liable for defamation and other claims brought by energy firmA North Dakota judge has said he will order […]
- France’s Engie strikes deal to buy UK Power Networks for £10.5bnby Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on February 25, 2026 at 9:43 pm
French utility to acquire owner of electricity cables and power lines across London, south-east and east of EnglandA French utility has agreed to buy the owner […]
- Massachusetts’ least-cost 2050 peak power mix is combustion-free: reportby Brian Martucci on February 25, 2026 at 6:02 pm
But a top official with a regional independent power producer group said the focus now, amid rising demand, should be on “energy addition, not retirement or […]
- NRG has ‘zero interest’ in speculative new capacity build: CEOby Diana DiGangi on February 25, 2026 at 3:20 pm
“We are not going to do anything that doesn't meet our unlevered [12-15%] hurdle rate that we've announced, full stop,” said CEO Larry Coben.
- Germany accused of ditching climate targets as it scraps renewables mandateby Deborah Cole in Berlin on February 25, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Coalition government agrees to remove parts of controversial law and allow homes to rely on fossil fuels Germany’s coalition government has been accused of […]
- Scotland’s new emissions strategy ‘too reliant on science fiction’, critics sayby Severin Carrell Scotland editor on February 25, 2026 at 5:00 am
UK Climate Change Committee voices concern over Scotland’s progress on decarbonising buildings and reliance on unproved technologies Scotland has finally […]
- Government accused of caving in to building lobby amid plans to shake up housing sector in Englandby Fiona Harvey Environment editor on February 24, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Changes to planning rules would limit scope of English councils and prevent them pursuing improvements to low-carbon homesThe government has been accused of […]
- ‘If we see you again, we kill you’: how a Colombian wildlife hotspot turned into a death zoneby Words and photographs by Harriet Barber in Barrancabermeja, Colombia on February 24, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Armed groups and a state-owned refinery’s oil leaks have displaced Barrancabermeja’s fishing community and poisoned a paradise once full of manatees and […]
- How Trump’s big climate finding repeal could actually hurt big oilby Dharna Noor on February 24, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Without federal climate regulation, fossil fuel industry may be more vulnerable to local lawsuitsThe Trump administration’s repeal of a foundational climate […]
- Reform mayor courted US oil and gas executive about fracking in UKby Hajar Meddah on February 24, 2026 at 6:00 am
Exclusive: Documents show Andrea Jenkyns asked how she could help firm after major gas find in LincolnshireLincolnshire’s Reform party mayor, Dame Andrea […]
- New datacentres risk doubling Great Britain’s electricity use, regulator saysby Dan Milmo and Jillian Ambrose on February 23, 2026 at 6:17 pm
Ofgem says about 140 proposed projects, driven by AI use, could require more power than current peak demandThe amount of power being sought by new datacentre […]
- Sam Altman defends AI’s energy toll by saying it also takes a lot to ‘train a human’by Eric Berger on February 23, 2026 at 5:40 pm
OpenAI CEO also downplayed concerns about how much water datacenters require at AI summit in IndiaThe OpenAI boss, Sam Altman, has tried to ease concerns about […]
- Trump’s EPA to roll back rule limiting hazardous mercury from coal plantsby Reuters on February 20, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Environmental groups warn that weakening air toxics and mercury standards will lead to higher health-related costsThe Trump administration announced on Friday […]
- The Guardian view on Merz and Meloni: an emerging Berlin-Rome axis is threatening the EU’s green dealby Editorial on February 19, 2026 at 7:05 pm
The deregulation agenda being pushed by Germany’s chancellor and Italy’s prime minister is economically and ethically flawedWhen the European Union […]
- MPs in call to halt Drax’s £2m-a-day subsidy over sustainability doubtsby Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on February 19, 2026 at 10:10 am
Exclusive: Cross-party group ‘deeply concerned’ power plant may have misled ministers and regulators over source of wood pelletsEd Miliband is under […]
- US sanctions, power cuts, climate crisis: why Cuba is betting on renewablesby Anna Heikkinen in Herradura, Cuba on February 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm
With Trump blocking Venezuelan oil imports and old power plants breaking down, the island – with Chinese help – is turning to solar and wind to bolster its […]
- Fukushima review – a devastating account of disaster and denial in 2011 nuclear catastropheby Peter Bradshaw on February 18, 2026 at 11:00 am
A tense return to the disaster foregrounds the heroism of the ‘Fukushima 50’ while raising questions about corporate secrecy and nuclear safetyThe […]
- Approval for Solar Farm and Energy Storage System Secures Green Energy for Yorkshireby Electric Energy Online on September 8, 2025 at 10:56 pm
- PSC Lowers Costs for Distributed Solar Industryby Electric Energy Online on September 8, 2025 at 10:56 pm