EPA Gives Mixed Nod to Hawaii's Haze-Busting Power Plant Plan
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA is giving Hawaii a thumbs-up on some parts of its plan to clear up regional haze and protect air quality but saying 'not quite' on others, especially the plan to shut down certain power plants. This affects communities on Hawaii and Maui, aiming to keep the skies clearer while making sure progress is fair and realistic. Public comments are open until April 20, 2026, so folks have time to weigh in before final decisions.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
EPA Will Not Approve Planned Plant Shutdowns
The EPA is proposing to disapprove Hawaii's long-term regional haze strategy because it relied on enforceable shutdowns of power-plant equipment that the owner no longer agrees to close. The Plan (submitted August 2, 2024) included enforceable shutdowns of six boiler units at the Kanoelehua-Hill and Kahului Generating Stations and an option to shut down several diesel generators at the Maalaea Generating Station; EPA says those shutdowns lack required legal assurances and could raise Takings Clause concerns.
EPA Approves Visibility Tracking and Monitoring
The EPA is proposing to approve parts of Hawaii's regional haze plan that cover how the State calculates baseline, current, and natural visibility, progress to date, the uniform rate of progress, reasonably attributable visibility impairment, progress report requirements, and the monitoring strategy. These approvals are for the State's second implementation period submission (Revision 1) and relate to tracking progress through the 2028 planning period.
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