Hawaiian Electric's Neglect of Wildfire Safety Raises Concerns Amid Renewable Energy Focus

Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii's largest electricity supplier, prioritized its pursuit of renewable energy over wildfire prevention, spending only $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects between 2019 and 2022. The utility company focused on converting to renewables after a spike in oil prices in 2008 and a state mandate to derive 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2045. However, this focus may have come at the cost of fire mitigation, as the company is now facing scrutiny for not shutting down power lines during high winds that contributed to devastating wildfires in Maui. Proposed class action lawsuits have been filed against Hawaiian Electric, alleging negligence in maintaining the grid and failure to prevent the fires.