The EPA just walked back Hawai‘i’s plan to retire its dinosaur power plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partially rejected Hawai‘i’s 2024 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, a long-term strategy aimed at reducing air pollution and improving visibility in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Haleakalā National Park. The plan, which sought to comply with the federal Clean Air Act’s stringent protections for these Class I areas, included shutting down two of Hawaiian Electric Co.’s (HECO) oldest oil-fired power units by 2028. The EPA’s decision notably halts the planned retirements of the Kanoelehua-Hill and Kahului power plants, citing concerns over grid reliability and potential constitutional issues related to private property rights. The EPA described the proposed plant closures as “unconsented” and warned they could violate the Takings Clause of the U.S. Constitution by effectively seizing private property without just compensation. This move aligns with the agency’s broader agenda under current leadership to prioritize “energy dominance,” even as it contradicts efforts to reduce man-made emissions contributing to haze and air quality degradation in Hawai‘i’s national parks. The decision follows a similar rejection of a coal plant closure plan in Colorado, signaling a pattern of resistance to state-led clean energy transitions. Environmental groups, including Earthjustice, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, have condemned the EPA’s action, arguing it will harm local communities and degrade air quality in the parks. Isaac Moriwake, managing attorney at Earthjustice’s mid-Pacific office, described the ruling as a significant setback for Hawai‘i’s environmental progress. HECO acknowledges the challenges posed by the EPA’s stance but maintains its commitment to retiring the aging plants. According to Mike DeCaprio, HECO’s vice president of power supply, the company plans to expand biofuel facilities, solar farms, and battery storage to ensure grid stability before decommissioning the oil-fired units. The EPA’s decision underscores the complex balance between environmental protection, energy reliability, and legal considerations in transitioning away from fossil fuels. Hawai‘i’s efforts to address regional haze and protect its unique natural landscapes now face renewed uncertainty amid federal pushback, raising questions about the future pace and feasibility of the state’s clean energy goals.