Hawaiian Electric focus on meeting Democrats' renewable energy mandate rather than addressing wildfire risks

[DKG]

A number of Democrats and other leftists have blamed the deadly wildfires in Hawaii on the specter of anthropogenic climate change.

Like the Biden administration, Hawaii's Gov. Josh Green (D) and both the state's 88%-Democratic House and 92%-Democratic state Senate are ostensibly keen to lead the globe on clean energy and climate issues.

It appears that the efforts by Hawaii's largest energy provider to follow suit and satisfy a Democrat-mandated transition to renewable energy took priority over alternatively pragmatic efforts to maintain its equipment and deal with the known and documented threat of fuel buildup in the form of flammable vegetation.

Hawaiian Electric, which serves 95% of the state's 1.4 million residents, was slapped with a lawsuit Wednesday, which alleged the "negligent and reckless operation" of its infrastructure "necessarily cause the Lahaina fire," reported Forbes.


The negligence lawsuit claimed that extra to Hawaiian Electric providing an "ignition source" — having allegedly failed to "deenergize power lines during a High Wind Watch or Red Flag Warning, and ... shut off the power during those conditions" — the company had also neglected to adequately clear flammable vegetation and maintain its equipment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Hawaiian Electric has known about the pressing need to take preventive measures concerning wildfire threats for years, concluding during the 2019 wildfire season that it needed to ensure its power lines would not spit sparks.

This preventive measure would have been especially important, not because of so-called climate change, but because flammable, invasive plants have overgrown derelict farms and taken over one-quarter of state land, leaving Hawaii crowded with potential fuel.

Despite recognizing the need to act, the Journal indicated that Hawaiian Electric spent less than $245,000 on wildfire-specific projects on Maui between 2019 and 2022, according to regulatory filings. It didn't press the state for approval to raise rates to pay for such improvements until June 2022 and still has yet to receive it.

While Hawaiian Electric has made various commitments to take precautionary measures to "minimize the risk of sparks when winds picked up," the Journal reported that former regulators and energy company officials said the utility was preoccupied "at that time procuring renewable energy."

This focus was largely resultant of the state's 2015 mandate to totally transition to renewable energy.

According to the Democrat-authored 2015 law, Hawaii is required to meet interim renewable portfolio standards of 40% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and 100% by 2045.

In addition to allegedly prioritizing the green transition sought by Democrats over wildfire prevention measures, the utility also reportedly put off investing in mitigation until its coffers could be filled.

Bloomberg reported that power lines have sparked numerous deadly fires across the United States in recent years. In California, the state's largest utility, PG&E Corp., went bankrupt in 2019 after its equipment was deemed responsible for blazes, including the 2018 Camp Fire, which claimed the lives of 85 people.

As of Thursday morning, authorities had confirmed at least 111 people have died in the Hawaii wildfires.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/hawaii-electric-accused-of-focusing-on-tackling-specter-of-climate-change-rather-than-mitigating-known-threats-of-fuel-buildup-ahead-of-fires?utm_source=theblaze-breaking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20230817SponsoredTrending-RevelationMedia-Thursday&utm_term=ACTIVE%20LIST%20-%20TheBlaze%20Breaking%20News

The deadly Hawaian woldfires were not caused by climate change. They were caused by irresponsible political intereference.

[Oerdin]

Downed electrical lines caused that fire not climate change.  In the end it was Democraps mandates that caused this because that is why funds were taken from wild fire prevent to be spent on stupid wind mills.

[DKG]

Downed electrical lines caused that fire not climate change.  In the end it was Democraps mandates that caused this because that is why funds were taken from wild fire prevent to be spent on stupid wind mills.

Indeed it was irresponsible climate mandates that caused the wildfires.

[caskur]

Downed electrical lines caused that fire not climate change.  In the end it was Democraps mandates that caused this because that is why funds were taken from wild fire prevent to be spent on stupid wind mills.

And wind turbines cause fires.

Google that and you will see them catch fire.

[DKG]

And wind turbines cause fires.

Google that and you will see them catch fire.

They also kill a lot of birds and fill up landfills quickly.

[Oerdin]

https://youtu.be/bVOF-QUtINs?si=QDcbJxuuv4Ty2caQ

[Oliver the Second]

If one downed power line can burn down an entire city and kill hundreds of people then something else is wrong too.

[caskur]

If one downed power line can burn down an entire city and kill hundreds of people then something else is wrong too.

aging infrastructure.... buildings get old and fall down, roads get holes, wooden power poles get eaten by white ants.

any of those conditions can and do, kill people.

[caskur]

https://youtu.be/bVOF-QUtINs?si=QDcbJxuuv4Ty2caQ

They burn off virgin habitat where live and they over do it and they are completely wrecking our environment.

[Oliver the Second]

SIMPSONS PREDICTED IT

[Oerdin]

Did you notice how all the Dems came out blaming climate change but now won't say anything?  They won't even comment when asked why the fire hydrants were all turned off.

[Oliver the Second]

This is a screenshot from page 10 of a 'Proclamation Related to Housing' in which the governor of Hawaii declares a 'disaster emergency relief period' from July 17th to September 15th.

Interesting timing to say the least.



Link to the document -

[Oliver the Second]