Zero Emissions By 2045? Maybe With Geothermal Or Advanced Nuclear

But both face daunting regulatory and cultural obstacles for Hawaiʻi.

Ten years ago, state leaders signed into law our renewable electricity mandate commonly known as RPS 2045 . This year, through an executive order , Gov. Josh Green raised the bar on neighbor islands, seeking to achieve this goal by 2035. Many of us are familiar with its progress seeing renewable energy projects spring up across the state.

Fewer, however, are aware of the 2024 Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation court settlement, which applies a similar emissions standard to all transportation including interisland marine and aviation fleets.

Ideas showcases stories, opinion and analysis about Hawaiʻi, from the state’s sharpest thinkers, to stretch our collective thinking about a problem or an issue.