For decades, Hawaiʻi has gone back and forth on liquified natural gas like a broken record, all while oil continues burning. To achieve a fully renewable future by 2045, it’s now or never to choose a path and walk it.

The islands have long depended on oil and diesel for power generation. Low sulfur fuel oil, a refined crude oil, is used extensively on Oʻahu. Much of it comes from the Asia-Pacific region, one of the world’s most expensive oil markets. Consequently, Hawaiʻi’s electricity rates are the highest nationwide.

In response, Hawaiʻi officials have proposed liquified natural gas as a transition fuel. LNG offers a promising compromise: a cleaner-burning oil alternative that could lower Hawaiʻi’s sky-high energy costs while better aligning with the state’s renewable efforts.

Based on a recent report by the Hawaii State Energy Office, LNG offers significant advantages over low sulfur fuel oil. With Hawaiʻi’s current infrastructure and import patterns, LNG could reduce lifecycle emissions (the total carbon pollution released from extraction to combustion) by up to 44%, at around 34% of Low sulfur fuel oil’s cost.

Additionally, Hawaiʻi’s current modeled petroleum-fired power plants run at about 32% efficiency, while basic natural gas configurations could reach 46% or more. Higher efficiency means less energy loss and more power from every unit of fuel.

Of course, LNG is still a fossil fuel, a strictly temporary solution. Green hydrogen shows promise as the long-term goal. It’s clean-burning and, when imported responsibly, delivers extremely low lifecycle emissions. With smart investments now, LNG infrastructure can also be made to handle hydrogen, bringing about long-term savings.

So, if LNG offers this much potential, why do policies keep stalling? The truth is, Hawaiʻi’s energy crisis expands beyond just crunching numbers. Balancing fossil fuel reliability with our impressive renewable goals demands major compromises.

Like many others, I was raised in the islands. I love this community deeply and want to see it prosper. However, many have adopted a black-and-white mindset, fossil versus renewable. This oversimplifies a multifaceted problem, risking further setbacks.

Hawaiʻi’s solar and wind power infrastructure faces a major issue: reliability. Some days, sunshine and cool breezes are plentiful. Other days, not so much.

Hawaii’s geography makes things tougher; a handful of islands in the middle of the Pacific means there’s only so much land to spare. To keep the lights on long-term in such a busy community, reliability is a necessity.

Although green hydrogen is the target, its infrastructure and technology are still underdeveloped. Until then, LNG offers a more effective solution than oil.

Having said all that, this energy transition must be navigated carefully. The natural gas industry has gained notoriety for methane leaks that significantly contribute to global warming.

Hawaiʻi’s future decisions need to address this conscientiously. To avoid spurring on additional high-emission fracking while potentially securing discounted prices, purchasing from existing excess supply should be prioritized.

Many large global power corporations, such as JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company (and which recently expressed interest in working with Hawaiian Electric), could provide viable contracts.

Additionally, regular communication between project leaders and community residents is crucial. For such a large-scale project, the needs and livelihoods of residents should never be treated as a bargaining chip.

Many past projects in Hawaiʻi have faced harsh criticism for this very reason — neglecting the voices of local communities. We can’t make the same mistake moving forward.

In this time of constant noise, meaningful dialogue is more important than ever. Hawaiʻi’s energy crisis is one that has not seen meaningful action for far too long. If we want to realize an all-renewable future, then we must choose a path and begin walking it now.