Hawaiian Electric confirms that two major fossil fuel-fired power plants on Maui remain on track to retire despite the federal government recently easing greenhouse gas emissions restrictions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the rollback of Biden administration rules for power plants, arguing the previous mandates forced premature closures. According to Hawaiian Electric, the federal policy shift alters neither the state’s clean energy timeline nor local decommissioning plans for the Mā‘alaea and Kahului facilities.
Federal Rule Rollbacks and Local Clean Energy Commitments
The EPA stated last week that it was repealing most greenhouse gas requirements for U.S. power plants, alongside a proposal to rescind all remaining standards for the power sector. The federal agency contended that earlier regulations forced plants to shut down rather than meet compliance targets. Hawaiian Electric responded that the revisions have no effect on company facilities. In a statement to the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative, the utility emphasized that the regulatory changes do not alter its commitment to state clean energy goals, grid modernization, or emissions reductions.
Hawai‘i operates under a state law passed in 2015 requiring 100% renewable energy by 2045. Hawaiian Electric reached 37% renewable energy across five islands by 2025. Hawai‘i island leads utility-served counties at 57.3% renewable integration, followed by Maui County at 41.6% and O‘ahu at 32.3%, per the company’s 2025-26 sustainability report. The separate Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative powers Kauaʻi.
Did you know? Maui County’s renewable portfolio relies heavily on solar and wind energy, supported by incoming grid-scale battery storage installations designed to replace baseline fossil fuel generation.
Maui Power Plant Retirement Timelines and Battery Investments
To facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels, Hawaiian Electric is investing in renewable generation and battery storage. The Mā‘alaea Generating Station off North Kīhei Road serves as Maui’s largest power source at 212.1 megawatts. The facility holds permits for a tiered closure of individual generating units between 2027 and 2032. Meanwhile, the 37.6-megawatt Kahului Power Plant near the harbor holds permits to retire its units by 2028.
Construction began in January on the Waena battery energy storage system on Maui, a standalone 40-megawatt, 160-megawatt-hour load-shifting project built to enable the retirement of the four Kahului plant units. Additional renewable capacity includes the $241 million second phase of the Kūihelani Solar Project in Central Maui, slated to power roughly 18,425 homes annually for at least two decades at a fixed price.
Regulatory Hurdles: The Regional Haze Dispute
Plant closures encountered a regulatory obstacle in May when the EPA partially rejected Hawai‘i’s 2024 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, declining to approve the early closure of several units at critical power plants, including Kahului. Clean Air Act rules require states to draft such plans to protect visibility around national parks. In July, Attorney General Anne Lopez filed a petition on behalf of the Hawai‘i Department of Health challenging the partial disapproval.
Hawaiian Electric stated that with the plan under appeal, clarity is lacking regarding whether final retirement dates will shift. The utility intends to consult the Hawai‘i Department of Health regarding long-term strategy revisions to satisfy the Regional Haze Rule while balancing grid reliability and minimizing customer impacts.
Environmental Perspectives on Grid Reliability and Fossil Fuels
Isaac Moriwake, managing attorney of the Mid-Pacific Office of Earthjustice, asserted that Hawaiian Electric’s renewable transition remains solid despite federal rollbacks because the utility complies with state mandates rather than federal pollution rules. Moriwake noted that state law establishes renewable requirements, leading to emissions reductions as a natural byproduct.
Federal officials defended the EPA rollback as a measure to save billions of dollars and secure reliable baseload power. Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued that coal and natural gas maintain power availability during peak demand periods. Conversely, Moriwake rejected the reliability argument for legacy fossil fuel systems, pointing to recent storm-induced outages as evidence of system brittleness during severe weather. Moriwake also criticized the shifting federal rules across presidential administrations as a delay tactic on climate action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Maui’s fossil fuel power plants still closing?
Yes. Hawaiian Electric confirmed that federal rollbacks of greenhouse gas rules will not alter plans to retire the Kahului and Mā‘alaea power plants.
When are the Maui power plants scheduled to shut down?
Permits allow the Kahului Power Plant to retire its units by 2028, while the Mā‘alaea Generating Station has permits for a tiered closure of units between 2027 and 2032.
What is replacing the generation capacity from these fossil fuel plants?
The utility is integrating new renewable energy sources, such as the Kūihelani Solar Project, and constructing grid-connected storage like the 40-megawatt Waena battery system.
Why did the EPA challenge part of Hawai‘i’s plant closure schedule?
The EPA partially rejected Hawai‘i’s 2024 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan under the Clean Air Act, withholding approval for the premature closure of specific units pending further review.
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