Hawaii governor signs clean fuel standard into law

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A new law aims to cut Hawaii’s carbon footprint by establishing a clean fuel standard to reduce transportation emissions.

Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2999 into law Wednesday, which calls for a performance‑based system enforced by the Hawaii Department of Transportation that rewards cleaner fuels with credits and assigns deficits to more carbon‑intensive fuels.

“A resilient Hawaii is defined by sustainable systems,” said Green. “These investments reinforce a commitment to building co-beneficial models, allowing economic opportunities to give way to a cleaner, low-carbon future.” Officials say a clean fuel standard supports local agriculture and renewable energy industries and expands markets for homegrown renewable fuels and materials, including options that can turn waste products into energy sources. “This is a huge opportunity to create new reinvestment in lower-cost, cleaner transportation options for local residents, using a model already proven in other states,” said state Sen. Chris Lee, who introduced the bill. 

The measure calls for the implementation of a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels by Jan. 1, 2028, and a clean fuel standard for diesel and gasoline by Jan. 1, 2029.