The EPA just walked back Hawai‘i’s plan to retire its dinosaur power plants
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- EPA on May 15 partially denied Hawaii’s 2024 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, which targeted haze reduction in Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakalā national parks.
- EPA rejected the plan’s core proposal to shut down at least two oil‑fired units—Kanoelehua‑Hill and Kahului—by 2028, labeling the closures “unconsented” and a possible Takings Clause violation.
- Lee Zeldin is executing President Donald Trump’s executive orders on “energy dominance,” which influenced the agency’s stance on the Hawaii haze plan.
- Earthjustice and a coalition of nine other environmental groups warned the decision will harm Hawaii communities and worsen air quality in the parks.
- Hawaiian Electric Co. says it still intends to retire the aging plants, but needs additional biofuel, solar, and battery projects before 2028 to avoid grid reliability risks.
Why it matters: Environmental groups lose a near‑term haze reduction and health benefits, while Hawaiian Electric keeps two aging oil units online past 2028, preserving grid reliability but extending pollutant emissions that threaten tourism and public‑health outcomes.
