Hawaii Closes Last Coal-fueled Power Center in Move to Renewable Energy
2022-09-11
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1The state of Hawaii recently closed its last electricity production center fueled by coal.
2The closure is part of its effort to decrease the use of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and to increase the use of renewable energy resources.
3The coal plant had operated for 30 years.
4It produced up to one-fifth of the electricity on the island of Oahu, the most populous island in Hawaii.
5The state's population is nearly 1.5 million people.
6In 2020, Hawaii's Legislature passed a law banning the use of coal for energy production by the start of 2023.
7Hawaii has set a goal to move to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.
8It was the first state to set such a goal.
9Hawaii's Governor David Ige recently spoke with the Associated Press.
10He said: "It really is about reducing greenhouse gases."
11Scientists say greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat and contribute to the warming of the atmosphere.
12Ige said the power plant emitted 1.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.
13People in the state say the Hawaiian Islands have suffered the effects of climate change.
14These effects include the destruction of coral reefs from warming sea temperatures, sea level rise, intense storms, and drought that is increasing the risk of wildfires in the state.
15However, not everyone thinks closing the power plant is a good idea.
16They say the state will now have to burn more oil because the coal plant is no longer operating.
17And oil is currently a lot more expensive than coal and causes almost as much pollution.
18Hawaii has the highest energy and living costs in the United States.
19Hawaii Electric Company estimated that ending the use of coal and the additional cost of oil will result in a seven percent increase in electricity bills for consumers.
20It later lowered the estimate to four percent based on reports of lower oil prices.
21Democratic Party state Senator Glenn Wakai said Hawaii was changing "from the cheapest fossil fuel to the most expensive fossil fuel."
22He also said, "if you pay an electricity bill, this is a disastrous day for you."
23Hawaii is joining 10 other states that do not produce electricity from coal.
24That information comes from Global Energy Monitor, an organization that promotes the use of renewable energy around the world.
25In 2001, there were about 1,100 coal-burning plants in the United States.
26More than half have stopped operating since then, with most switching to natural gas.
27Hawaii already gets about 40 percent of its power from sustainable sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal energy.
28But oil provides more than half of its electricity.
29Kurt Fevella is a State Senator from the Republican Party.
30He suggested that Hawaiian Electric Company and other energy companies should pay some of the additional cost of changing to renewable energy.
31Hawaiian Electric Company is the state's only provider of electricity.
32It said it cannot do very much to change the prices that consumers pay because it does not set prices.
33Jim Kelly, an official with the company, said, "We don't make any money on the fuels that we use to generate electricity."
34AES Corporation is the operator of Hawaii's last coal plant.
35Leonardo Moreno, president of AES Corporation's clean energy division, said, "Renewables are getting cheaper by the day."
36He said that he can see a future where renewable energy is low-cost and abundant.
37Scott Glenn is Hawaii's Chief Energy Officer.
38He said that coal is getting more costly.
39He said Hawaii gets its coal from clearcut rainforests in Indonesia.
40Glenn also said, "We are already feeling the effects of climate change."
41He said it is not fair to ask other states or countries to help with climate change if Hawaii does not also help.
42"If we don't, we drown," he said.
43I'm Andrew Smith.
1The state of Hawaii recently closed its last electricity production center fueled by coal. 2The closure is part of its effort to decrease the use of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and to increase the use of renewable energy resources. 3The coal plant had operated for 30 years. It produced up to one-fifth of the electricity on the island of Oahu, the most populous island in Hawaii. The state's population is nearly 1.5 million people. 4In 2020, Hawaii's Legislature passed a law banning the use of coal for energy production by the start of 2023. Hawaii has set a goal to move to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. It was the first state to set such a goal. 5Hawaii's Governor David Ige recently spoke with the Associated Press. He said: "It really is about reducing greenhouse gases." Scientists say greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat and contribute to the warming of the atmosphere. Ige said the power plant emitted 1.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year. 6People in the state say the Hawaiian Islands have suffered the effects of climate change. These effects include the destruction of coral reefs from warming sea temperatures, sea level rise, intense storms, and drought that is increasing the risk of wildfires in the state. 7However, not everyone thinks closing the power plant is a good idea. They say the state will now have to burn more oil because the coal plant is no longer operating. And oil is currently a lot more expensive than coal and causes almost as much pollution. 8Hawaii has the highest energy and living costs in the United States. Hawaii Electric Company estimated that ending the use of coal and the additional cost of oil will result in a seven percent increase in electricity bills for consumers. It later lowered the estimate to four percent based on reports of lower oil prices. 9Democratic Party state Senator Glenn Wakai said Hawaii was changing "from the cheapest fossil fuel to the most expensive fossil fuel." He also said, "if you pay an electricity bill, this is a disastrous day for you." 10Hawaii is joining 10 other states that do not produce electricity from coal. That information comes from Global Energy Monitor, an organization that promotes the use of renewable energy around the world. 11In 2001, there were about 1,100 coal-burning plants in the United States. More than half have stopped operating since then, with most switching to natural gas. 12Hawaii already gets about 40 percent of its power from sustainable sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal energy. But oil provides more than half of its electricity. 13Kurt Fevella is a State Senator from the Republican Party. He suggested that Hawaiian Electric Company and other energy companies should pay some of the additional cost of changing to renewable energy. 14Hawaiian Electric Company is the state's only provider of electricity. It said it cannot do very much to change the prices that consumers pay because it does not set prices. Jim Kelly, an official with the company, said, "We don't make any money on the fuels that we use to generate electricity." 15AES Corporation is the operator of Hawaii's last coal plant. Leonardo Moreno, president of AES Corporation's clean energy division, said, "Renewables are getting cheaper by the day." He said that he can see a future where renewable energy is low-cost and abundant. 16Scott Glenn is Hawaii's Chief Energy Officer. He said that coal is getting more costly. He said Hawaii gets its coal from clearcut rainforests in Indonesia. 17Glenn also said, "We are already feeling the effects of climate change." He said it is not fair to ask other states or countries to help with climate change if Hawaii does not also help. "If we don't, we drown," he said. 18I'm Andrew Smith. 19Caleb Jones reported this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. 20_____________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22plant -n. a building or factory where something is made 23contribute to -v. to share in bringing a result; to be partly responsible for the result 24emit -v. to release a substance or energy into the environment, such as heat, gas, sound and the like. 25drought -n. a long period of time without rain, often resulting in a lack of water. 26consumers -n. those who use and/or buy materials and services 27cheap -adj. low in cost 28promote -v. to encourage or advocate for 29switch -v. to change from doing or using one thing to another thing 30sustainable -adj. able to be used or renewed for an indefinite period of time into the future 31generate -v. to produce; to create 32abundant -adj. in great amount, more than enough 33clearcut -adj. in forests, areas where all of the trees and vegetation have been cut down and removed 34We want to hear from you. 35We have a new comment system. 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