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.
- Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work?by Adam Morton on April 18, 2026 at 8:00 pm
The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuseSign up for climate […]
- Who’d have thought a fossil-fuel shill like Trump would be the one to spark a green revolution? | George Monbiotby George Monbiot on April 18, 2026 at 7:00 am
The US attack on Iran has made the need for renewable energy inarguable. Environmentalists are now being seen for the pragmatists that they areDonald Trump has […]
- PECO withdraws $510M in rate hike proposals over affordability concernsby Ethan Howland on April 17, 2026 at 3:48 pm
“We recognize that Pennsylvanians are struggling with basic necessities like gas, food, and energy and have decided to withdraw our proposal,” said David […]
- Congress presses DOE’s Wright on Energy Star, permitting reformby Diana DiGangi on April 17, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t offer plans for DOE’s full takeover of the Energy Star program. He agreed to work with Congress on methane rules and […]
- FERC tees up June decision on data center interconnection reformby Ethan Howland on April 17, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Other open meeting takeaways: Chairman Swett is “perplexed” on PJM backstop auction; the agency rejected a renewable developer’s $44-million waiver […]
- US power purchase agreements reach record prices: LevelTenby Emma Penrod on April 17, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Industry analysts say the Iran war and impending tax credit expiration have not yet played a major role in rising power purchase agreement prices.
- After 2 years, ratepayer pain and political fallout from Georgia’s nuclear plant Vogtleby Patty Durand on April 17, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Texas built 36 GW of solar and storage in four years, for about $36 billion. Georgia built 2 GW of nuclear in 15 years at the same cost, writes Patty Durand, […]
- Colombia convenes climate ‘coalition of the willing’ to break global fossil fuel deadlockby Fiona Harvey and Jonathan Watts on April 17, 2026 at 8:00 am
Santa Marta conference born out of frustration at Cop summits, where renewable progress has been stalled by major pollutersEverybody knows fossil fuels cause […]
- Suniva announces 4.5-GW solar cell facility in South Carolinaby Diana DiGangi on April 16, 2026 at 5:58 pm
Expanding U.S. solar cell manufacturing capacity targets an “important bottleneck," Keith Adams, Deloitte’s U.S. renewable energy leader, said in an email […]
- ERCOT says Texas demand could quadruple but cautions forecast may be inflatedby Robert Walton on April 16, 2026 at 2:33 pm
The forecast is “preliminary,” said grid officials, who may request changes to the analysis. It is based on ERCOT forecasting, as well as utilities working […]
- Wright defends actions on coal plants, funding cuts in testy House hearingby Diana DiGangi on April 16, 2026 at 2:21 pm
When pressed, the energy secretary said that money for home energy efficiency rebate programs, which has been frozen since last year, would “probably” be […]
- Why reforming rooftop solar and battery permitting belongs on every state affordability agendaby Nick Josefowitz on April 16, 2026 at 2:00 pm
The hurdles that stop families from installing home energy upgrades are firmly within the control of state governments, writes Permit Power founder Nick […]
- FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’by Ethan Howland on April 16, 2026 at 1:27 pm
“American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC […]
- Thursday briefing: What it will take for Britain to break up with natural gasby Patrick Greenfield on April 16, 2026 at 5:46 am
In today’s newsletter: The economic fortunes of the UK are intertwined with the price of the costly fuel – so why are we so slow to ditch it?The economic […]
- How South Korea plans to use the Iran crisis to spur a renewables revolutionby Raphael Rashid in Seoul on April 16, 2026 at 3:09 am
Energy crisis unfolding in Middle East has added political urgency, and more funding, to transform South Korea’s solar industryIn Guyang-ri, a farming […]
- Drax claimed record £999m in subsidies for burning trees in 2025, thinktank saysby Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on April 15, 2026 at 11:01 pm
Company has received about £8.7bn in renewable energy subsidies since 2012, despite claims wood pellets are not sourced sustainablyThe owner of the Drax power […]
- The Guardian view on the looming energy shock: ministers need to show they have a plan | Editorialby Editorial on April 15, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Keir Starmer can’t be blamed for the crisis in the Middle East, but he has to reassure people that he is prepared for its long-term consequencesPublic […]
- Big oil making $30m an hour from Iran war - The Latestby Presented by Lucy Hough with Damian Carrington; producer Bryony Moore; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin; lead producer Zoe Hitch on April 15, 2026 at 3:49 pm
The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies made more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to […]
- How big oil is cashing in on Iran war – The Latestby Presented by Lucy Hough with Damian Carrington ; producer Bryony Moore ; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin ; lead producer Zoe Hitch on April 15, 2026 at 3:37 pm
The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies made more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to […]
- Amazon enters agreements for nine Australian renewable projects to power datacentresby Josh Taylor Technology reporter on April 15, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Tech company has signed on to nine deals as it aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our […]
- Will Qantas and Virgin continue raising fares and cutting routes? This graph may give the answerby Patrick Commins on April 15, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Price of jet fuel has climbed by 125% since start of Iran war – giving Qantas and Virgin a big challenge as fuel accounts for a fifth of expensesFollow our […]
- How the US-Israel war on Iran is affecting African economiesby Nesrine Malik on April 15, 2026 at 12:22 pm
For some, the impact is already being felt but others remain in limbo over their energy security and are hostage to an unlikely de-escalation• Don’t get […]
- $30m an hour: big oil reaping huge war windfall from consumers, analysis findsby Damian Carrington Environment editor on April 15, 2026 at 11:02 am
Exclusive: Climate action blockers including Saudi Arabia, Russia and major fossil fuel firms set to make extra $234bn by end of 2026Middle East crisis – […]
- IMF says strait of Hormuz closure raises prospect of ‘major energy crisis’ – videoon April 15, 2026 at 2:42 am
The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a range of possible global economic scenarios due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. IMF’s chief […]
- Cuba could beat US energy blockade with $8bn investment in renewables, says thinktankby Damien Gayle on April 14, 2026 at 11:01 pm
Report by Common Wealth argues rest of the world should pay for country’s transition as reparative climate financeCuba could beat the US’s crippling energy […]
- Run the dishwasher, plug in the car: how Great Britain plans to use record wind and solar powerby Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on April 14, 2026 at 4:44 pm
With a summer glut on cards, customers are being urged to use more energy when renewables are abundantGreat Britain households to be urged to use more power […]
- Democrat Ro Khanna to introduce bill to stop US gasoline exports amid Iran warby Dharna Noor on April 14, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Congressman says keeping gas supplies at home could lower costs for Americans amid price hikes sparked by warAmid historic jumps in gas prices triggered by the […]
- Politicians and media can’t imagine a fossil-fuel free world - and it’s holding Australians back from huge EV savings | Adam Mortonby Adam Morton on April 14, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Australia is well behind other countries in embracing clean cars – it’s past time we kicked into gear on going electricWant to get this in your inbox when […]
- ‘Suddenly, boom, it’s completely warm’: summers are getting longer – especially in Sydney, study findsby Lisa Cox Environment and climate correspondent on April 14, 2026 at 7:11 am
Researchers examined trends in 10 global cities, with Sydney’s summer growing at two-and-a-half times the averageScientist Ted Scott could feel that summers […]
- Surrounded by windfarms but out of work: the reality of the green jobs boom on England’s east coastby Antonia Shipley on April 14, 2026 at 7:00 am
The government hails the ‘green revolution’ as a solution to economic decline, but some young jobseekers say the rhetoric does not match their experienceOn […]
- PSC Lowers Costs for Distributed Solar Industryby Electric Energy Online on September 8, 2025 at 10:56 pm
- Approval for Solar Farm and Energy Storage System Secures Green Energy for Yorkshireby Electric Energy Online on September 8, 2025 at 10:56 pm