In response to reporting that the Hawai‘i State Energy Office is preparing an analysis on importing liquified “natural” gas (LNG) as part of the state’s energy mix, Evergreen Senior Policy Lead for Energy Transition Mattea Mrkusic released the following statement:

“Hawai‘i has a strong record as a climate leader. The state made a historic pledge to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2045, and under Governor Green’s leadership, also committed to eliminating its dependency on imported fossil fuels by 2045. 

“But Hawai‘i’s clean energy progress is at a critical crossroads. Reverting to dangerous LNG as part of the state’s energy mix wouldn’t necessarily help with resilience or affordability and it would be a massive step backward for the climate. LNG is not a ‘solution’—it’s a climate disaster in disguise that would lock Hawai‘i into decades of harmful climate pollution. As research continues to show, LNG is a dirty, climate-wrecking fossil fuel that poses serious health risks, especially for historically marginalized communities living near extraction sites and refineries. For a state that’s been a bold national leader on climate, embracing more LNG would be an unacceptable backslide.

“Investing in LNG infrastructure would not only waste valuable time and money, but it would also divert precious resources from the clean, renewable energy solutions Hawai’i needs. Renewables offer a better, more affordable path forward while strengthening the state’s resilience against volatile fossil fuel markets. Governor Green’s administration must reject this dangerous path and stay the course toward a sustainable, renewable energy future. Hawai‘i cannot afford to backtrack into more fossil fuel dependency—it’s time to lead, not retreat.”

Earlier this year, Evergreen released “The Climate Costs of America’s LNG Exports” detailing how LNG is a climate disaster that disproportionately harms frontline communities and laying out the unmissable opportunity for the U.S. Department of Energy to determine that new LNG exports aren’t in the public interest. You can read the full report here.