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.
- Former FERC officials concerned about Supreme Court Slaughter decision impactsby Herman K. Trabish on July 10, 2026 at 2:35 pm
“Stripping those agencies of their independence will leave consumers exposed to the worst aspects of competitive markets without the protections of […]
- What can best ease transmission bottlenecks? More transfer capacity, DOE says.by Ethan Howland on July 10, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Transmission congestion added $12 billion in wholesale power costs in 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy said in a draft report on U.S. transmission needs.
- New York reaches 8 GW of distributed solar capacityby Diana DiGangi on July 9, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Tony Smith, chair of the Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance, told Utility Dive that other states can learn from New York’s policies that “reduce soft […]
- KKR to buy EDF power solutions’ North American operations for $4.2Bby Zoya Mirza on July 9, 2026 at 4:33 pm
EDF power solutions owns and runs a portfolio of solar, wind and battery storage assets across multiple regions. The company said its U.S. and Canada […]
- Duke reduces rate hike request, still faces regulator pushbackby Diana DiGangi on July 9, 2026 at 2:59 pm
The utility dropped its proposed residential rate increase to 11.6% from 18% after pushback, but hearings this week highlighted continued unease. “I don't […]
- PJM status quo ‘untenable’: FERC Commissioner LaCerteby Ethan Howland on July 9, 2026 at 2:51 pm
“Looking at things differently is hard, especially in entrenched utilities that have been doing this for a long time,” the Federal Energy Regulatory […]
- DOE closes up to $3.26B loan to AEP Texasby Robert Walton on July 9, 2026 at 12:55 pm
The money is intended to go toward upgrading and building transmission lines spanning roughly 2,800 miles. The utility has agreements supporting up to 41 GW of […]
- Illinois regulators approve ComEd VPP under new clean energy lawby Brian Martucci on July 8, 2026 at 4:35 pm
The program will discharge power from small batteries during events like the early-July heatwave that pushed PJM Interconnection demand to near-record levels.
- IRA clean energy gains mostly on track despite OBBBA, says MIT studyby Diana DiGangi on July 8, 2026 at 2:08 pm
74% of all new clean electricity capacity that would have been added under the Inflation Reduction Act will be preserved despite Trump administration policy […]
- New Jersey increases transmission oversight in ‘affordability’ pushby Ethan Howland on July 8, 2026 at 1:44 pm
New Jersey’s governor signed bills that aim to cut transmission owners’ return on equity, establish data center tariffs and require state approval for […]