Green: Hawaii should consider liquefied natural gas as a ‘bridge’ to 100% renewable energy

Liquefied natural gas must be included as Hawaii works to meet its clean energy goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045, Gov. Josh Green said this week at the Hawaii Energy Conference.

The state was open to LNG under Abercrombie, and Hawaiian Electric Co. it even continued its development, but the Ige administration was vehemently opposed to it, so the utility abandoned its plans.

Speaking at a conference in Maui on Wednesday, Green said LNG must be part of the mix as the state considers ways to lower energy costs, build energy resiliency and reduce its carbon footprint. He asked his energy director to conduct a full-scale analysis of every possible energy source, except nuclear, that could accelerate Hawaii’s transition from fossil fuel dependence.

“Can I be honest? One such method is liquefied natural gas, which causes hives in many people. I see. I do. But if the goal is to reduce carbon consumption and get there faster, so that we actually use renewable energy, we need to have everything on the table,” Green said.

If Hawaii fails to meet its renewable energy mandate, the state will continue to burn fossil fuels at an “alarming rate,” Green said, adding that consumers will continue to pay some of the nation’s highest energy costs and more local families will move to the mainland.

“There has to be some sort of bridge between now and 2045,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury to take any options off the table at this point.”

Green admitted that importing LNG would represent a shift in state policy. In 2015, then-Gov. David Ige has strongly opposed LNG, saying it will only prolong Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels and cause conflict among residents over the location of LNG terminals.

However, Hawaii has been debating whether to invest in LNG. Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie in 2012 directed Hawaiian Electric to consider using natural gas as a fuel source for its generators.

In his letter to HECO, Abercrombie stated that Hawaii is committed to a clean energy future based on energy efficiency and local renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro and geothermal. However, it would be wise to consider LNG as it could be a cheaper and cleaner fuel than crude oil, which could reduce consumers’ energy bills, he added.

Abercrombie’s position differed from that of former Gov. Linda Lingle. During her administration, the state and utilities signed the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, which outlined the state’s plan to transition to renewable sources without the use of LNG.

On Wednesday, Green appeared to echo some of Abercrombie’s thoughts. He said he loves solar and wind power, but worries that Hawaii “could end up languishing for a long time” by trying to build it on the islands, where it is more expensive than on the mainland.

The governor’s remarks surprised some conference participants.

“It surprised me. No judgment,” said Ben Sullivan, deputy director of the Honolulu Office of Climate Change. “It was provocative.”

While the thought of importing fossil fuels bothers him, Sullivan said he understands why the governor is considering all options given the high cost of living.

Jennifer Potter, a former member of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, was also somewhat surprised by Green’s comments regarding LNG. Importing natural gas is not a short-term strategy and it is wrong to think of it as a “bridge fuel,” she said.

“Switching to LNG would require large investments in infrastructure, including port terminals. We all agreed that the state’s goal is 100% renewable energy,” Potter said. “The question arises whether making a decades-long investment is consistent with the social vision and goals.”

According to a spokesman, Hawaiian Electric was not surprised by Green’s stance on LNG and is neutral on the possibility.

“We appreciate the governor’s comments on finding the right path to 2045 that balances reliability, decarbonization and costs,” spokesman Jim Kelly said.

The company supports the work of the State Energy Office to build a comprehensive inventory of sources, including LNG, that could constitute part of the state’s energy portfolio.

But Kelly said it’s important to remember the history of LNG in Hawaii over recent decades.

“In one administration, the pursuit of LNG was an imperative of state policy, in the next it was banned. We are aligned on our decarbonization and clean energy goals and we must be aligned on the path we will take to reach 2045,” he said.

Colin Yost, one of three current PUC members, said he thinks parts of Hawaii, maybe not Oahu, can come close to becoming a clean energy state within six years, with renewables accounting for 60% of energy production by year 2030.

“I know in the case of Maui and the Big Island … it should be absolutely doable,” Yost said, noting he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the PUC. “On Kauai, you’ve already seen proof that they’ve gotten there.”

The member-owned Kauai Island Utility Cooperative was an investor-owned utility that charged ratepayers the highest electricity costs in the state. However, after the island’s inhabitants organized themselves, raised money and turned the company into a cooperative in 2002, the transition to renewable energy finally took place, combining solar, hydropower and biomass.

According to Beth Amaro, KIUC communications manager, who also spoke at the conference, the cooperative currently sources nearly 60% of its energy from renewable sources, and Kauai residents pay the lowest electricity rates in the state.

KIUC at one point considered LNG, “but it didn’t make sense,” said Jan TenBruggencate, president of the cooperative’s board of directors.

“The infrastructure requirements for LNG were going to be a huge financial blow. We have decided to continue our progress towards generating a fully renewable energy source,” he said.

Green said there is plenty of money in the private sector and in Washington that could help Hawaii if it takes decisive steps toward renewable energy sources.

While traveling to Los Angeles earlier this month to attend the Milken Institute’s global conference, Green said he talked to multibillionaires who want to invest “in the climate space,” where bold initiatives are being taken to transition away from fossil fuels.

“There is an appetite for it,” he said. “I think you’ll be surprised how much money will flow into the state if we are bold.”

He also said the Department of Energy is interested in fulfilling President Joe Biden’s pledge to help Hawaii after the Lahaina tragedy.

Hawaii Energy Director Mark Glick said he hopes the state will receive a $250 million award from the Department of Energy to install temperature sensors, high-tech weather stations and other strategies to strengthen the grid and make Hawaii more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Civil Beat’s coverage of environmental issues on Maui is supported by grants from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Hawaii Wildfire Recovery Fund, the Knight Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.