State releases its first Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan

Hawai‘i Department of Transportation recently announced the release of Hawai‘i’s first statewide Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan.

Officials call the new plan a bold roadmap to reduce transportation emissions and expand affordable transportation options for all state residents.

The plan provides strategies for the transportation sector to achieve the state climate targets set in law:

• 50% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2030.
• Net negative transportation emissions by 2045, meaning Hawaiʻi should capture more emissions than it produces.
• Ultimately, zero transportation emissions.

“[Hawai‘i Departmennt of Transportation’s] Energy Security Plan is a call to action,” said Hawai‘i State Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen in the state’s announcement about the plan’s release. “Together, we can create a transportation system that is cleaner and safer while fulfilling its purpose to connect our communities. The strategies outlined in this plan will help us build out the system for our future generations.”

Pillars of the plan are island energy security, affordability for kamaʻāina and emissions reduction.

A sampling of strategies include:

• Incentives for electric vehicles and cleaner fuels.
• Build out within 5 years of significant pedestrian, bicycle and transit projects so people can chose transportation options other than single-passenger vehicles.
• Immediate investment in carbon sequestration efforts such as native reforestation.

The plan — which will be updated annually to reflect new data, technology and community feedback — fulfills a commitment made by Hawai‘i Department of Transportation under the youth-led Navahine Settlement Agreement reached in June 2024.

“Transportation impacts everyone in Hawaiʻi and we therefore encourage feedback and ask for partnership from industry, fellow agencies and the public, including Hawaiʻi’s youth,” Sniffen said. “Collective action across all sectors, public and private, will increase transportation choice, decrease costs for users of the system and enable us to achieve these ambitious targets.”

The draft Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan and comment form are available online.

“We appreciate [Hawai‘i Department of Transportation] working to implement the Navahine settlement and plan for the safer, cheaper and cleaner transportation system we need to protect the fundamental rights of our youth,” said Isaac Moriwake with Earthjustice, co-counsel for the Navahine youth plaintiffs, in the state’s announcement. “This plan is meant to be a living document to map our way forward, and we must all help to breathe life into this vision. Aʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia: No task is too big if done by all.”

The state Transportation Department will host a series of public presentations via videoconference later this month to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the plan, ask questions and provide feedback.

Dates and registration information will be available on department’s website soon.

“This plan is the catalyst for creating a future that all people can thrive in,” said Hawai‘i Youth Transportation Council Member Kawika Pegram in the state’s announcement. “Through this plan, we can harness the power of local industry, create meaningful jobs and invest in public infrastructure like never before.”