Hawaii Targets 100% Renewable Energy by 2045, Leading Nation

Hawaii's commitment to renewable energy reached a historic milestone when the legislature passed House Bill 623, establishing a 100% renewable portfolio standard by 2045. The bill sailed through both chambers with overwhelming support—passing the Senate 24-1 and the House 50-1—before heading to the governor's desk. The measure sets intermediate targets of 30% renewables by 2020, 70% by 2040, and the full 100% by 2045.

Unlike other states that can import renewable energy from neighboring regions or purchase renewable energy credits to meet portfolio standards, Hawaii must generate all of its power within its own closed energy ecosystem. This geographic constraint makes Hawaii's renewable goal substantially more difficult to achieve than comparable targets elsewhere in the nation. Currently, the state generates just over 21 percent of its power from renewable sources—a 12 percent increase in just six years—demonstrating measurable progress toward the 2045 deadline.

The Hawaiian Electric Companies, which serve Oahu, Maui County, and the Big Island, submitted their own ambitious plan to state regulators showing how they could reach 100 percent renewable electricity generation by 2040—five years ahead of the state mandate. The utility has abandoned its pursuit of liquefied natural gas as a transitional fuel, instead committing to a direct shift to renewables. Governor Josh Green reinforced this commitment in January 2025 by issuing an executive order to accelerate the energy transition further, requiring 100% renewable electricity in Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui counties by 2035, while targeting 70% greenhouse gas emission reductions in Oahu's electricity sector by 2035.

Hawaii's renewable energy push builds on years of policy development. The state established its Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2001 and launched the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in 2008 in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy. In October 2025, Hawaii signed a Strategic Partnering Agreement with JERA, Japan's largest power producer, to modernize grid infrastructure and enhance system reliability. If achieved, Hawaii will become the first U.S. state to run entirely on renewable electricity, fundamentally reshaping how the island state meets its energy needs.