Hawaiian Electric, on Earth Day, is reaffirming its commitment to help build more resilient communities and decarbonize energy systems across its five-island service territory.
Since 2010, Hawaiian Electric has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 24%, the company highlighted in its 2020-21 Sustainability Report. The company also used 107 million fewer gallons of oil in 2020 compared to 2008. And it achieved a 35% consolidated renewable portfolio standard last year, exceeding the state mandate of 30%. That’s more than triple the 9% RPS reported in 2010.
To support decarbonization, 3.7 million solar panels are in use across Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and Maui County. Several more solar-plus-storage projects are expected to come online over the next few years. And Hawaiian Electric continues to offer ways to make it quicker and simpler for customers to install and interconnect rooftop solar.
Hawaiian Electric employees also are committed to improving the environment through safe pandemic- and family-friendly community service projects. On Oʻahu, many employees are participating in family pod beach cleanups, recycling and tree planting.
Here are some other ways Hawaiian Electric and its employees are celebrating Earth Month and continuing efforts to support sustainability:
· Among many proud sponsors of Kanu HawaiÊ»i’s Volunteer Week HawaiÊ»i, April 18-24, which aims to build more resilient communities and encourage individuals and groups to care for the ‘aina (land), keiki (children) and kÅ«puna (seniors) through volunteerism. Read Hawaiian Electric’s Mediumblogto learn how you can participate.
· Corporate grants totaling $60,000 awarded to four environmental nonprofit organizations – Blue Planet Foundation, Coral Reef Alliance, HawaiÊ»i Environmental Restoration and The Nature Conservancy in HawaiÊ»i – which are working to protect and preserve HawaiÊ»i’s natural and cultural resources. For example, Hawaiian Electric supports Coral Reef Alliance’s efforts to implement restoration projectsreducing sedimentin West MauiÊ»s nearshore marine environment,and transition the PuakÅ community from cesspools to improved wastewater treatment on Hawai‘i Island. Learn more here.
· Support of nonprofits East Maui Watershed Partnership, Maui Invasive Species Committee, MolokaÊ»i Land Trust, SHARKastics, Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter, The Maui Farm and Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Islands for their environmental sustainability efforts in commemoration of the company’s 100th year serving Maui County.
- Sponsored and participated in the County of Hawai‘i’s recent virtual Sustainability Summit. Leaders from diverse sectors came together to start conversations on topics including climate change/resilience, economy, energy, environment, food security, mobility, sustainable agriculture and sustainable tourism.
- Employees invited to join the “Meatless Monday” movement, a global initiative to cut out meat one day a week for personal and planetary health. Adopting a meatless lifestyle can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other benefits. For meatless recipe ideas, check out Hawaiian Electric video cooking demos with Chef Paul Onishi at facebook.com/hawaiianelectric. Learn how Chef Paul “veganized” recipes from The Electric Kitchen and how he started his meatless journey.
