{"id":2048696,"date":"2023-09-28T20:09:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T00:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaiian-electric-ceo-testifies-during-house-hearing-on-maui-fires\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T20:12:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T00:12:53","slug":"hawaiian-electric-ceo-testifies-during-house-hearing-on-maui-fires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaiian-electric-ceo-testifies-during-house-hearing-on-maui-fires\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaiian Electric CEO speaks at Maui Fires House Hearing."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhawaiian-electric-ceo-testifies-during-house-hearing-on-maui-fires%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2048696&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Hawaiian Electric employee \u200crepairs power lines in the aftermath of the Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii,\u200b August \u200b17, 2023.  (Photo by YUKI \u200cIWAMURA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>OAN\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/tag\/taylor-tinsley\">Taylor Tinsley<\/a><br \/>5:08 PM \u2013 Thursday, September 28, 2023<\/h2>\n<p>The president of Hawaiian Electric Co. and\u2063 the island nation\u2019s top public officials testified in a congressional hearing \u200cover the devastating wildfires that scorched Lahaina. <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-1\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px;  text-align: center;\">  \t<script>  \t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-1'); });  \t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, a House committee questioned Hawaiian Electric President and CEO,\u2062 Shelee Kimura, Chairman of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Leodoloff Asuncion Jr., and the state\u2019s Chief Energy Officer, Mark Glick.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/c3.oann.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In August, a series of devastating fires broke out on Maui. Today, we investigated the role the island&#8217;s electric infrastructure played in the fires. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7UhVIBZOOR\">pic.twitter.com\/7UhVIBZOOR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u2063 Morgan Griffith (@RepMGriffith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepMGriffith\/status\/1707452822843740300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September \u200d28, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" async data-cmplz-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Wildfires swept across the island of Maui in August\u2063 and killed at least \u200b97 people, with many still \u2064missing.<\/p>\n<p>The fires are estimated to have caused $4 to $6 billion in economic losses and the direct cause\u2062 has \u200cyet to be determined.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cAccording to an estimate from the University of Hawaii\u2019s Pacific Disaster Center, at least 2,200 buildings were destroyed, with about 86 percent of those buildings being residential,\u201d said committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Lawmakers questioned the role \u200bHawaii\u2019s electrical grid had in the fires and whether it was properly maintained.<\/p>\n<p>Committee Chair Representative Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) questioned why Hawaiian Electric \u2064failed to shut\u2062 off the power despite receiving red flag warnings from the National \u200cWeather Service. <\/p>\n<p>The Virginia Representative wanted insight into the company\u2019s protocols and what would warrant them to de-energize.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cIn 2019, our teams started developing a wildfire mitigation plan. Based on what they had\u200c learned of the plans in California, including their preemptive shutoff programs, that wasn\u2019t \u200dthe\u2064 appropriate fit for Hawaii. Hawaii is very unique,\u201d Kimura said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Kimura said the \u2063company had other protocols in place for high winds and\u200d a shutoff simply wasn\u2019t in it. The CEO, however, affirmed they are \u2064now re-examining.<\/p>\n<p>Public Safety \u2064Power Shutoffs (PSPS) is a \u2064strategy used in states including California, Nevada and Oregon, that shuts down the power in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaiian-electric-ceo-testifies-during-house-hearing-on-maui-fires\/\" title=\"Hawaiian Electric CEO speaks at Maui Fires House Hearing.\">communities experiencing high wind conditions<\/a> with increased fire risk.<\/p>\n<p>The plan \u200dmay not have worked for Hawaii \u200bbecause in California, for example, there is specific legislation that\u200b protects utility companies from certain liabilities that may\u2063 result from power \u200dshutoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Also during the hearing, Hawaii\u2019s Chief \u2064Energy Officer, Mark Glick, acknowledged policy changes must be made when \u200cit comes to preventing damage to power lines and the spread of wildfires through vegetation management.<\/p>\n<p>Both Glick and\u200d Kimura \u2063also said that utility officials need to work on cooperative efforts with private landowners.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cOur vegetation management is around\u200d our lines,\u201d Kimura said. \u201cOur easements and rights \u200cof way do not give us the right, it\u200d is not a stated right, to take care of the grass under our \u200dlines on private property.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Kimura said she thinks\u200c this is a critical issue that all Hawaiian utility officials need to look at.<\/p>\n<p>Stay informed! Receive breaking\u2064 news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts\">https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>All the cases and investigations\u00a0you may have missed this week. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>While every state becomes a border state under the Biden Administration, the cities along the border have become the most overwhelmed by the migrant crisis. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Hunter Biden\u2019s China-backed business partners sent him more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3-astronauts-land-back-on-earth-after-spending-a-year-in-space\/\" title=\"3 astronauts return to Earth after a year in space.\">250-thousand-dollars back<\/a> in 2019. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>45th President Donald Trump makes his pitch to union and non-union auto-workers in Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>LONDON (Reuters) -The European Commission\u200d launched an investigation \u200bon Wednesday into whether to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reactions-to-eu-probe-of-chinese-electric-cars-imports\/\" title=\"EU probe of Chinese electric cars imports sparks mixed reactions.\">impose punitive tariffs<\/a> \u2062to protect European Union automakers against\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>By David Shepardson WASHINGTON\u2062 (Reuters) \u2013 The U.S. Senate\u2019s top Democrat is\u200c bringing\u200d U.S. technology leaders including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) \u2013\u200b ABB \u2062is spending \u2064$280 million on a new robotics factory in Sweden, the\u2064 Swiss\u200c engineering and\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>PARIS (Reuters) \u2013 French Europe Minister Laurence Boon on Wednesday welcomed an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles launched by the EU\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> rnrn  <\/p>\n<h2> What policy changes and protocols are necessary to prevent damage to power lines and the spread of wildfires\u2063 in Hawaii<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The devastating wildfires that engulfed Lahaina, West Maui in August 2023 have prompted \u2062a \u200dcongressional hearing aimed at understanding the role of Hawaiian Electric Co. in the\u2063 fires. The\u200d president and CEO of \u2062Hawaiian Electric, Shelee Kimura, along \u2063with other top public officials, testified before a House committee on\u2062 Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The wildfires that\u2064 tore through the island of Maui claimed the lives of at least 97 people, with many still missing. The economic losses are estimated to be between $4 to $6 billion, making it imperative to determine the direct cause of the fires.<\/p>\n<p>During the hearing, \u200bcommittee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers highlighted the extent\u2062 of the devastation, stating that &#8220;at least 2,200 buildings were destroyed, with about 86 percent of those buildings being residential.&#8221; Lawmakers focused on Hawaii&#8217;s electrical grid and \u2063its maintenance, asking \u2064whether it played a role in the fires. Representative Morgan Griffith questioned why Hawaiian Electric did not\u2062 shut off the \u2062power\u2062 despite receiving red flag \u2064warnings from the National Weather Service.<\/p>\n<p>Kimura responded by explaining that the\u2064 company did not have a protocol \u200bin place for power shutoffs based on\u2063 information\u2062 learned from California&#8217;s wildfire mitigation plan. She stated that Hawaii&#8217;s\u2064 unique circumstances\u200b required a different approach. \u200bHowever, she acknowledged \u200cthe need to re-examine their protocols in light \u2064of the recent fires.<\/p>\n<p>Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) \u2064have been implemented in states like California, Nevada, and \u200cOregon\u200c to mitigate fire risks during high wind conditions. The plan, which involves shutting down power in\u2064 affected communities,\u2062 may not be suitable for\u200b Hawaii due to the \u200cabsence of specific legislation that protects utility companies from certain liabilities \u200bresulting from power shutoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Mark Glick, Hawaii&#8217;s Chief Energy Officer, admitted that policy changes are necessary to prevent damage to power lines and the spread of wildfires through effective vegetation management. Glick\u2063 and Kimura both emphasized the importance of cooperative efforts between utility\u2062 officials and private landowners in addressing these challenges.<\/p>\n<p>The hearing\u200b shed light on the need for\u200b improved protocols and policies to better prepare for and prevent devastating wildfires like the ones that struck Lahaina. \u200bWhile the direct cause of\u2062 the fires is yet to be determined, it is crucial that Hawaiian Electric and other relevant entities continue to work towards\u2063 implementing effective measures to protect \u200bcommunities in the face of increasing wildfire risks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hawaiian Electric worker fixes power lines after Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, Aug 17, 2023. (Photo: YUKI IWAMURA\/AFP via Getty Images) Hawaiian Electric Co. president and island officials testify in congressional hearing. OAN&#8217;s Taylor Tinsley, Sep 28, 2023, 5:08 PM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1209,"featured_media":2048697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2048696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2048696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2048697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2048696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2048696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2048696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}