$2 Billion Natural Gas Facility Proposes for Kapolei

A proposed $2 billion natural gas facility in Kapolei, Hawaii is still on track to come online in four years. JERA Co. Inc., Japan's largest power generation company, submitted a proposal for the Longboard LNG project in March. The facility would deliver about 500 megawatts of power annually, or one-third of O'ahu's total power plant generation.

JERA Vice President Erik Montague said the project is not guaranteed but remains possible pending permitting and regulatory hurdles. The facility would import liquefied natural gas via tanker ships to an offshore floating fuel storage unit, which would regasify the fuel before it's delivered by underwater pipeline to the power plant in Kapolei.

The project aligns with Hawaii's mandate that 100% of its net electricity generation come from renewable sources by 2045. Montague noted that Japan has a similar mandate with a 2050 deadline, calling it 'a tall order.' He cited progress made in both countries but warned that the next step will be more difficult.