Why natural gas will thrive in the age of renewables

In 2015, Hawaii’s state government signed into law a bold vision for the island’s energy future, pledging to generate 100 percent of its power from renewables, such as wind and solar power, by 2045. Hawaii’s steady trade winds and warm sunshine seemed to make it the perfect place to pursue a clean energy mix. Already, there are days when Hawaii generates nearly 60 percent of its electricity from renewables.

Shifting to wind, solar and other alternative fuels is an ambition shared by many state leaders across the U.S. as the country tries to grapple with shifting consumer demand, climate change and uncertain political realities. Both California and New York, for example, are aiming to reach 50 percent renewable power by 2030. But this transition can’t be achieved simply through policy preferences and good intentions; it presents serious technological, financial and logistical challenges.

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