The state must spend millions to see if more electricity can be produced using heat deep under the earth. And it will have to convince residents to support such an effort.

Making solar available to middle- and low-income residents was intended to help meet the state’s 2045 all-renewable energy goal. Now one developer says: “We just want out.”

The controversy involves a cap on HECO’s liability for future wildfires

Two bills still alive could move the state toward its goal — but at a price.

Native Hawaiian homesteaders nearby say they are already bearing the brunt of Hilo’s garbage, sewage, oil refining and airport facilities.

The utility’s bid to shore up its financial footing with a fund that covers and caps future wildfire liability is backfiring in the Legislature.

The utility is working with lawmakers on a plan that would make the state take over energy contracts if HECO defaulted, a situation lawmakers say is unlikely to occur.

UPDATED: Civil Beat has updated the story to reflect that the wind turbines are not certain to come down at the end of their power contracts. Kahuku’s wind turbines, which irked neighbors, might have to come down at the end of their 20-year contracts after a Honolulu City Council decision last week.

The power company plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in the next few years on wildfire prevention. Some lawmakers question why that didn’t happen before Lahaina.

The utility created the Public Safety Power Shutoff program last May to for adverse weather conditions.