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.
- Coal power generation falls in China and India for first time since 1970sby Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on January 13, 2026 at 12:01 am
‘Historic’ moment in biggest coal-consuming countries could bring decline in global emissions, analysis says Coal power generation fell in China and India […]
- US judge lets Danish firm resume Rhode Island offshore wind project halted by Trumpby Reuters on January 12, 2026 at 10:29 pm
Ørsted and other wind developers have faced repeated disruptions to multibillion dollar projects under TrumpA federal judge on Monday cleared Danish offshore […]
- US plan to exploit Venezuela’s oil could eat up 13% of carbon budget to keep 1.5C limitby Damien Gayle and Jillian Ambrose on January 12, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Exclusive: ClimatePartner analysis shows how move would risk plunging Earth further into climate catastropheUS plans to exploit Venezuela’s oil reserves […]
- 5 takeaways from Xcel CEO Bob Frenzel’s talk at the Minneapolis Fedby Robert Walton on January 12, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Supply chains are “actually degrading” while competition for engineering, construction and procurement services from hyperscalers is driving up costs for […]
- Trump pulls US from key climate treaty, 65 other global organizationsby Zoya Mirza on January 12, 2026 at 3:00 pm
The U.S. will exit the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and several other global bodies focused on climate, energy and sustainable […]
- Building security into energy infrastructure by design is lower cost and more effectiveby Leo Simonovich on January 12, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Data centers and their energy partners would be wise to ramp up cybersecurity efforts to match the pace of development, writes Leo Simonovich of Siemens […]
- Senate bill exempts fully isolated large loads from FERC, DOE regulationby Ethan Howland on January 12, 2026 at 2:33 pm
The bill affecting data centers and other energy intensive sectors may face opposition from utilities as a threat to their revenue, according to one industry […]
- ‘It’s embarrassing’: riders say time is up for fossil fuel sponsorship of heat-affected Tour Down Underby Royce Kurmelovs on January 12, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Cyclists prepare for Australia’s big race by training in extreme temperatures – and they have noticed a contradiction in the relationship with SantosGet […]
- Why robust planning is central to data center successon January 12, 2026 at 10:00 am
The size and pace of data center creation is a major shift for utilities and builders on many levels.
- What lies below? Beneath our streets lies treasure — and trouble.on January 12, 2026 at 10:00 am
Mark it. Map it. Dig with confidence. One marker now can prevent disaster later.
- Distributed load flexibility: The overlooked relief valve for the gridon January 12, 2026 at 10:00 am
As load growth accelerates, distributed flexibility can protect reliability and affordability.
- Meta inks nuclear deals for up to 6.6 GW from Oklo, Vistra, TerraPowerby Diana DiGangi on January 9, 2026 at 3:36 pm
The agreements invest in future deliveries of advanced nuclear technology while also procuring power from existing plants and uprates.
- The week in 5 numbers: data centers drive load growth in PJM, Texasby Meris Lutz on January 9, 2026 at 3:09 pm
In non-data center news, offshore wind farms say they're losing millions a day and the government won't divulge the national security concerns behind […]
- Illinois sets 3-GW energy storage target, requires utilities to develop virtual power plantsby Robert Walton on January 9, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Electricity bills in Illinois rose 15% last year. A new law aims to reduce energy costs by incentivizing new resources, expanding solar and growing efficiency […]
- Our science predictions for 2026 – podcastby Presented by Ian Sample, with Hannah Devlin, produced by Madeleine Finlay, sound design by Ross Burns, the executive producer was Ellie Bury on January 8, 2026 at 5:00 am
Last year was full of unexpected science news, from the discovery of a new colour, to the interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas passing by our solar system, and a […]
- US attack on Venezuela will decide direction of South America’s vast mineral wealthby Jonathan Watts in Brazil on January 7, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Outcome of aggression will determine whether rare earths and other resources drive energy transition – or strengthen US military power and oil interestsThe […]
- The Guardian view on Trump’s raid in Caracas: oil matters, but it’s not the whole story | Editorialby Editorial on January 6, 2026 at 7:25 pm
The seizure of Venezuelan leader was induced by the prize of petroleum, but driven by spectacle, geopolitics and domestic politicsIt’s all about oil. That […]
- Trump taking ‘drill, baby, drill’ plan to Venezuela ‘terrible’ for climate, experts warnby Dharna Noor and Oliver Milman on January 6, 2026 at 1:00 pm
‘Everybody loses’ if production supercharged in country with largest known oil reserves, critics sayDonald Trump, by dramatically seizing Nicolás Maduro […]
- Trump officials sue California cities over laws to restrict fossil fuelsby Guardian staff and agencies on January 6, 2026 at 2:35 am
Suit against San Francisco-area cities Petaluma and Morgan Hill latest attack on policies that seek to rein in oil and gasThe Trump administration sued two […]
- Crude appeal: why Trump wants Venezuela’s oil – podcastby Presented by Ian Sample, with Jillian Ambrose, produced by Madeleine Finlay, sound design by Joel Cox, the executive producer was Ellie Bury on January 5, 2026 at 5:57 pm
The US capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday left many people wondering why? Donald Trump hinted at an answer when he claimed the […]
- ‘A silent majority’: MPs underestimate support for green policies, study revealsby Damian Carrington Environment editor on January 5, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Exclusive: From solar subsidies to meat taxes, minority rightwing voices appear to drown out the consensus“There may have been a silent majority in favour of […]
- Ministers may cut green tech mandate from new homes regulations in Englandby Fiona Harvey Environment editor on January 2, 2026 at 6:00 am
Exclusive: Critics say removing battery installation requirement will reduce amount homebuyers save on energy billsMinisters are poised to allow homes in […]
- Keir Starmer to woo voters and MPs with new year plan to cut cost of livingby Kiran Stacey Policy editor on December 31, 2025 at 10:30 pm
PM to highlight energy bill and interest rate cuts, plus end to two-child benefit cap, and to invite his MPs to ChequersKeir Starmer will attempt to rescue his […]
- Greenwashing, illegality and false claims: 13 climate litigation wins in 2025by Isabella Kaminski on December 31, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Legal action has brought important decisions, from the scrapping of fossil fuel plants to revised climate plansThis year marks the 10th anniversary of the […]
- Drop in energy price cap from April forecast to save typical home £138 a yearby Jasper Jolly and Kiran Stacey on December 31, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Predicted 8% cut to upper limit for Great Britain could reduce bills to lowest level in 15 monthsGreat Britain’s household energy price cap is set to fall by […]
- ‘People are wrestling with the burden’: Japan pivots to focus on nuclear power ‘maximisation’ alongside renewablesby Justin McCurry on December 31, 2025 at 4:00 am
Post-Fukushima nuclear closures of dozens of reactors forced the country to rely heavily on imported fossil fuels Continue reading...
- Tilting at windmills: Trump laments death of bald eagle in the US … which was really a falcon in Israelby Robert Mackey on December 31, 2025 at 12:42 am
A pity that Trump, or one of the 18 intelligence agencies reporting to him, did not trace the image back to its sourceEven while on holiday at his Florida […]
- Renewable energy project approvals hit record high in GB in 2025, data showsby Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on December 30, 2025 at 11:19 am
Applications to build battery storage drive boom as offshore wind projects given go-ahead jump sevenfold year on yearA record number of renewable energy […]
- London Eye architect proposes 14-mile tidal power station off Somerset coastby Robert Booth UK technology editor on December 27, 2025 at 11:07 am
West Somerset Lagoon would harness renewable energy for UK’s AI boom – and create ‘iconic’ arc around Bristol ChannelThe architect of the London Eye […]
- ‘This is the Costco of energy, man!’: author Bill McKibben on the promise of renewablesby Steve Curwood of Living on Earth on December 23, 2025 at 12:51 pm
The activist and author of Here Comes the Sun discusses rapid advances in solar and wind power and how the US ceded leadership in the sector to its main […]
- 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