The energy office is examining whether liquefied natural gas would be a practical replacement for low-sulphur fuel oil. Hawaii plans to unveil an updated state energy strategy next month that could include liquefied natural gas as a bridge fuel to its 100% renewable energy goal, officials say. The Hawaii State Energy Office is putting the finishing touches on a study to be released in mid-July with details on how the state can reduce its sky-high energy costs, decarbonize more rapidly and seek access to capital, according to Mark Glick, state energy officer.
He said his office expects “critical cost and carbon analytical findings” that stem partly from its recent Decarbonization Pathways report that cautioned about the damaging effects of continuing to use low-sulfur fuel oil as the main fuel for power generation. “It is clear, particularly post-Maui wildfires, that the status quo is no longer acceptable,” Glick said. Oahu still relies on low-sulfur fuel oil to generate 68% of the island’s electricity.
So LNG and other sources are all on the table, he said. Part of the motivation seems to be coming from the economic toll the state’s biggest electric company is facing from the Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui.
The fires, which resulted in the loss of at least 102 lives, caused massive liability risk to Hawaiian Electric Co. from damage claims, Glick said. That has greatly limited the utility’s access to capital as well as the cost.
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