Hawaii and coal
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Contents
Introduction
Hawaii had one coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 203 MW of capacity, representing 7.8% of the state's total electric generating capacity; Hawaii ranks 45th out of the 50 states in terms of coal-fired electric generating capacity.[1] In 2006, Hawaii's sole coal-fired power plant produced 1.6 million tons of CO2, 900 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 1,000 tons of nitrogen oxide; this coal-fired power plant was responsible for 7.6% of the state's total CO2 emissions.[2] In 2005, Hawaii emitted 16.9 tons of CO2 per person, slightly less than the U.S. average.[3]
No coal was mined in Hawaii in 2006.[4]
Citizen activism
History
There is no history of coal mining in Hawaii, as the state has little or no coal reserves.[5][6] The coal power industry is also very weak in Hawaii - the state's sole coal-fired power plant was built in 1992, and there are no active proposals to build new coal-fired power plants in the state. In 2005, 79.8% of Hawaii's electric generating capacity came from petroleum-fired power plants.[1]
Legislative issues
In 2008, the state legislature passed the Hawaii Solar Roofs Law, which mandates that almost all new homes have solar water heating systems installed.
Proposed coal plants
There are currently no proposals - either active or cancelled - to build coal-fired power plants in Hawaii.
Coal lobbying groups
Coal power companies
Existing coal plants
Hawaii had one coal-fired generating station in 2005, with 203 MW of capacity - representing 7.8% of the state's total electric generating capacity:[1][7][8]
Plant Name | County | Owner | Year(s) Built | Capacity | 2007 CO2 Emissions | 2006 SO2 Emissions | SO2/MW Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AES Hawaii | Oahu | AES | 1992 | 203 MW | 1,634,000 tons | 921 tons | N/A |
This one plant represents 7.6% of Hawaii's total CO2 emissions, and 1.5% of the state's total SO2 emissions.[3]
Major coal mines
There are no coal mines in Hawaii.[9]
Citizen groups
Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2005, Energy Information Administration, accessed April 2008.
- ↑ Estimated Emissions for U.S. Electric Power Industry by State, 1990-2006, Energy Information Administration, 2007.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hawaii Energy Consumption Information, eRedux website, accessed June 2008.
- ↑ Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Mine Type, Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.
- ↑ State Coal Profiles, Energy Information Administration, 1994. - cached copy at CoalDiver.org
- ↑ Recoverable Coal Reserves at Producing Mines, Estimated Recoverable Reserves, and Demonstrated Reserve Base by Mining Method, 2006, Energy Information Administration, 2007.
- ↑ Environmental Integrity Project, "Dirty Kilowatts: America’s Most Polluting Power Plants", July 2007.
- ↑ Dig Deeper, Carbon Monitoring for Action database, accessed June 2008.
- ↑ Major U.S. Coal Mines, Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.
Related SourceWatch articles
- Existing U.S. Coal Plants
- Existing U.S. Coal Mines
- US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
- Coal plants cancelled in 2007
- Coal plants cancelled in 2008
- Profiles of other states (or click on the map)