In the wake of catastrophic wildfires that decimated the island of Maui last month, the U.S. Department of Energy is stepping in to help repair and reinforce Hawaii's beleaguered power infrastructure. Announced by the White House, the $95 million funding will be channeled through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will significantly assist Hawaiian Electric in fortifying the state’s electric grid.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden personally visited the wildfire-stricken town of Lahaina on Maui in August, witnessing the extensive damage that has left 115 dead and 338 missing. The deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century, the tragedy has spurred the federal government into action.
"The federal funding is designed to increase grid operational resilience, reduce the likelihood of outages, hasten restoration times, and mitigate the risk of future wildfire events," said the White House in an official statement.
Hawaiian Electric has been the focus of intense scrutiny and legal challenges in the aftermath of the wildfire disaster. Last week, Maui County sued the utility company, accusing it of failing to shut off power, thereby contributing to the blaze. In a counter-statement, the utility denied responsibility, stating that their power lines had been deactivated hours before the fire broke out. Despite the lawsuit, the company’s shares have surged by about 40% after it denied allegations.
The substantial grant from the Department of Energy will cover half the cost of Hawaiian Electric’s proposed $190 million climate adaptation plan. The plan, which is pending regulatory approval, aims to implement several critical improvements, including the hardening of two critical power lines on Maui, replacing poles with fire-resistant materials, and relocating the Maui control center to a more secure location.
"Investing in a resilient power system will not only mitigate damage during catastrophic events but also allow for quicker restoration of services," the power utility commented.
Source: Reuters