Blue Planet Foundation

Still buzzing from an inspiring weekend for the clean energy movement in Hawai'i!

Yesterday we had the honor of attending a special reception with world-renowned climate advocate and author Bill McKibben as part of the Hawai'i Sustainability Expo. In a moment where the federal political climate feels increasingly hostile toward renewable energy, Bill’s presence in the Maui Room at the Blaisdell Center was both a sobering and stirring reminder that our local work in Hawai'i is the front line of the global climate fight.

As a founder of 350.org and Third Act, and the author of Here Comes the Sun, Bill is one of the most prolific experts in climate activism and environmental advocacy. His perspective remains rooted in "stubborn optimism." He views this era not just as a crisis, but as a "fresh chance for civilization" because the cheapest way to produce energy on Earth is now simply pointing a sheet of glass at the sun.

Bill’s message was direct: Hawai'i already has all the resources necessary to achieve 100% renewable energy. He urged us to look at global success stories like Pakistan, who have installed enough home-based solar to handle half of the country's national electric grid load. If they can leapfrog fossil fuel infrastructure and achieve a 35% reduction in diesel use, Hawai'i can do the same and more by harnessing our own abundant sun and wind.

Our allies in clean energy, Jeff Mikulina, Gwen Yamamoto-Lau, and Senator Chris Lee, were also present and engaged with Bill and many Hawai'i sustainability leaders in attendance to discuss these very solutions.

Bill’s warning was clear: despite the current political noise, we must remain vigilant and stay focused on the task at hand.

Hawai'i is not just a witness to the transition, we are showing the rest of the world how it's done.

The current discourse surrounding Hawaiʻi’s energy future often centers on a seductive but flawed premise: that Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is a "practical step forward" to mitigate costs while renewable infrastructure matures. This positions fossil fuel expansion as an unavoidable bridge. However, the primary obstacle to a renewable transition is not a lack of technology, but a self-imposed bureaucratic bottleneck.

The "necessity" of LNG is a symptom of a regulatory system rigged for the status quo. Across our islands, it remains faster to approve antiquated, high-emission projects than it is to green-light modern alternatives. While fossil fuel projects benefit from being sited on existing industrial lands, Hawaiʻi’s solar and wind projects are frequently relegated to a "permitting purgatory." They must navigate a gauntlet of zoning, environmental reviews, and utility approvals that can stretch for over half a decade.

Meanwhile, infrastructure for LNG and oil often "piggybacks" on legacy industrial permits authorized decades ago. If we find ourselves where we "must" rely on LNG to lower utility bills, it is only because we have historically prioritized the maintenance of these fossil fuel pathways while allowing renewable interconnection queues to swell to record lengths. This is not a technological limitation; it is a policy choice to keep the path of least resistance paved with carbon.

The argument for a "balanced" transition becomes a fallacy when the playing field is fundamentally uneven. If political will exists to fast-track the logistical chains required for LNG, that same urgency must be applied to the permitting reform necessary for utility-scale storage and grid modernization. To do otherwise is to lock Hawaiʻi into twenty or more years of carbon-intensive infrastructure under the guise of temporary relief.

Ultimately, the most effective way to ensure energy independence is not to build a "bridge" out of the past, but to clear the path for the future. When we address the permitting crisis, the perceived need for LNG collapses. We must stop streamlining the energy sources we are trying to outgrow and start empowering those that will sustain us.

While the goal of lowering energy costs for local families is one we all share, doubling down on new fossil fuel infrastructure is a risky detour, not a bridge to our destination.

The Hawaii State Energy Office's pitch for LNG relies on "ideal" market conditions, but the reality of global energy is anything but stable. Just look at the last few years: global events and geopolitical shifts have sent LNG prices on a rollercoaster. By tying Oʻahu’s grid to a global commodity, and locking ourselves into decades of paying off billions in infrastructure, we aren’t escaping higher costs, we’re just switching which volatile fossil fuel dictates our monthly bills.

Calls to recalibrate previous assumptions conveniently omit the reality of what has changed in the last 15 years: the fact that locally produced renewables and battery storage are now the most cost-effective and stable options available. Replacing one imported fossil fuel with another isn't modernization, it’s sticking to a 20th-century playbook in a 21st-century economy.

We cannot claim to be transitioning to a renewable energy future while simultaneously signing a 20-year pact that enriches outside interests and keeps us tethered to the past. The only way to achieve reliable, cheaper energy is to STOP IMPORTING IT.

Every dollar spent on LNG infrastructure is a dollar diverted from:

🔹Locally produced solar and wind
🔹Advanced battery storage
🔹Grid modernization

Rather than stalling our progress by revisiting outdated fuels, we must double down on the momentum we've already built and accelerate toward the finish line. Choosing local renewables over imported LNG is the only way to achieve true energy independence and keep our economy shielded from outside interference.

Let’s build a future that isn't vulnerable to the next global crisis.

"Calling Alaska home is core to our identity. The climate crisis is taking that away..." - Youth Plaintiff Linnea.

From Alaska to Hawaii, the fight for a clean energy future is powered by youth voices.

Young Alaskans are having their day in court defending their constitutional rights in a climate case against the massive Alaska LNG Project. This project would triple the state's emissions and lock in fossil fuel expansion for decades, the exact opposite of what the planet needs.

This resonates deeply in Hawaii. The push for LNG here, as in Alaska, is a step backward when we should be sprinting toward 100% renewable energy. It risks our environment, our communities, and our future.

We stand in solidarity with these youth advocates as they raise their voices for a future powered by clean, local energy, not polluting fossil fuels.

Learn more about the Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II case at the link in our bio, and join the conversation.

As reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, independent expert Mattias Fripp identified a massive miscalculation in a state energy study that allegedly inflated the projected benefits of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by up to $1.2 billion.

Once corrected, the data reveals that LNG could actually cost $300 million more than the benefits it provides, proving that fossil fuel expansion is a financial and environmental gamble we can't afford.

This discovery underscores one of the reasons why we have remained steadfast in our opposition to LNG, as it confirms that the push for imported gas is built on a house of cards.

We believe our path to 100% renewable energy must be paved with transparent, accurate data, not flawed fossil fuel projections.

Choosing the right path for our islands means staying focused on our ultimate goal: 100% renewable energy for Hawai'i.

We believe in moving directly toward truly clean, local solutions. Investing in new gas infrastructure risks delaying the progress we’ve already made and could lock us into fossil fuel dependency for decades to come.

True energy independence means prioritizing the health of our environment and the resilience of our communities over short-term fixes. Swipe through to see the vision we’re building together, one where our future is powered by the very elements that make our home so special.

Learn more about our mission and how we're working toward a fossil fuel-free Hawai'i by visiting the link in our bio.

Investing billions of dollars in LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) isn't just an energy choice, it’s a massive financial gamble that will crowd out the local, permanent, and truly affordable solutions Hawaiʻi actually needs.

Every dollar spent on inherently risky LNG infrastructure is a dollar diverted from cheap, reliable, renewable energy. We should be investing in assets that pay us back, not "bridges" we have to keep paying for.

The LNG Path: We build high-cost, high-maintenance infrastructure we’ll have to keep "feeding" with expensive, imported fuel for decades. It’s a liability we will regret sooner rather than later.

The Renewable Path: The same investment could buy hundreds of megawatts of solar and long-duration storage. Once built, the "fuel" is forever free.

As the rest of the world moves toward energy autonomy, doubling down on imported fossil fuels is a costly step backward for Hawai‘i. Let’s choose a path of local energy independence over imported debt.

It’s time to invest in energy we’ll own forever.

Hawaii is at a crossroads, and the path we choose today will define our energy landscape for generations. While some call Liquefied Natural Gas a "stepping stone," the reality is much more restrictive.

Investing in massive gas infrastructure creates a financial "lock-in" effect. Once these multi-million dollar projects are built, the debt stays on the books, forcing us to remain dependent on imported fossil fuels just to pay off the bill. This leaves our local economy vulnerable to unpredictable global shipping costs and market swings that we simply cannot control.

We’ve seen other states struggle with rising utility bills driven by this exact reliance. Instead of sinking our resources into the systems of yesterday, we should be investing every dollar into local, self-reliant renewable solutions.

We don’t need a temporary fix that keeps us tied to the past; we need a clear, permanent commitment to 100% clean energy for our islands.

Are you ready to prioritize real progress over short-term patches? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Our founder joined to talk about the future of energy in Hawaii, a conversation that is more urgent than ever after this week’s legislative updates.

Hawaii was the first state to mandate 100% renewable energy by 2045, but that goal is under threat. Lawmakers recently reviewed House Bill 1268, which originally sought to ban Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Instead of an outright ban, the committee decided to move forward with "guardrails" for the fuel.

We agree with the 113 pieces of testimony supporting the ban: LNG is a "disaster waiting to happen." Here is why we must stay the course on renewables:

-Ratepayer Risk: Investing in LNG means customers could be "locked in" to paying for expensive, new fossil fuel infrastructure that eventually becomes underused as we transition to green energy. State Energy Office officials have even admitted they cannot guarantee that delays in this infrastructure won't drive up costs for residents.

-It's Inconsistent: The state is currently suing fossil fuel companies for climate damage, so it makes no sense to invite a new fossil fuel industry into our islands.

-A "Trap" for the Future: Building a new fossil fuel system creates "stranded assets,"plants and pipelines that no longer make sense but that ratepayers are still forced to pay for.

-Safety Concerns: Supporters of the ban have raised serious concerns about the potential for explosions and fires related to LNG storage and transport.

-Proven Alternatives: Renewables are clearly cheaper, just look at Kauai, which has achieved the lowest electricity rates in the state by hitting 100% renewable for hours at a time. Rep. Nicole Lowen rightly pointed out that pursuing LNG is "fundamentally incompatible" with our climate goals.

We cannot afford to go backward. Our focus must remain on keeping energy wealth local and protecting our climate. Mahalo to the Living 808 team for help sharing this story!

Watch the full interview at the link in our bio!

The final day of the Blue Planet + NCEL Policy Workshop was packed with high-level strategy and memorable experiences.

The day kicked off with a comprehensive formulation and recap of the entire week, where representatives from each state emphasized the vital importance of transitioning into renewable energies and updated everyone on the current status and challenges they face. They shared valuable lessons learned throughout the week and exchanged ideas on how to proceed going forward.

The team then heard from Gwen Yamamoto-Lau, Executive Director of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, sharing the "green bank" concept in Hawaii and how that model may apply to each jurisdiction.

Following the presentation, the group took a grand tour of the Hawaii State Capitol, including the Chambers and the Governor's office. Lunch followed at Café Julia, where the team welcomed current Public Utilities Commissioner Colin Yost to the discussion.

To cap off the week, the team boarded a University of Hawaii research vessel for a farewell sunset cruise, where they continued to learn from firsthand knowledge of climate change issues in Hawaii, and the crucial research being conducted on board. What a memorable way to conclude the week.

A huge mahalo to all the dedicated legislators and partners! Let's take these lessons learned back home and make clean energy a reality!

The day began at Kahauiki Village, a state-funded, microgrid-based affordable housing community for 600 low-income residents in 138 units, built in 2017. Utilizing solar PV/thermal energy, the village operates near off-grid, demonstrating how energy independence builds resilient communities. This partnership with the Institute of Human Services (IHS) addresses social needs including homelessness and reentry after imprisonment.

Next, we explored sustainable transit via the Skyline Rail System to Leeward Community College. Jon Nouchi, Deputy Director, Honolulu DTS, discussed the city’s bus-to-transit conversion, and the new rail phase now connecting Honolulu airport to the University of Hawaii West Oahu. He noted their 700-bus fleet has grown by 17 new electric buses servicing the corridor. Scaling EV fleets connected to transit hubs is essential for a cleaner transportation future.

At Leeward Community College, the first net-zero energy campus in the University of Hawaii system, we met with Chancellor Carlos G. Peñaloza, PhD. The credit-based campus generates 97% of its energy via on-site photovoltaic (PV) systems and distributed energy storage, proving higher education can lead in carbon neutrality.

In the afternoon, we toured the Mililani Solar Park, Oahu’s first utility-scale solar and battery storage power plant. This impressive facility features 39 MW of solar capacity paired with a massive 156 MWh battery system, providing clean, dispatchable power after sunset. The park is a significant example of agrivoltaics, optimizing both energy production and agricultural yield via research collaboration with Hawaii Agricultural Research Center led by Juli Burden, MS Agrivoltaic Systems Lead. Nicola Park of Clearway Energy Group discussed community engagement and the vital role of dispatchable solar. Blue Planet believes solar innovation and workforce development are key to ensuring a just transition.

Witnessing these initiatives offers a tangible blueprint for accelerating sustainable and equitable policies back home.