JERA Accused of Misleading Public on LNG Benefits
A recent open house hosted by JERA, a liquefied natural gas company, has been criticized for misleading marketing tactics. At the event, a JERA representative mentioned power outages occurring across Oahu and suggested that JERA's LNG plans would improve and stabilize the island's power grid.
The claim is disputed by some, who point out that most Oahu power outages are caused by severe weather events, such as Kona lows, which bring flooding and high winds. These incidents often impact infrastructure like transmission lines, towers, poles, and wires leading to residences and businesses.
JERA's proposed infrastructure includes an offshore platform, a pipeline to transport LNG onshore, and the construction of a JERA power plant at Barbers Point. Critics argue that this plan will not alleviate power outages since these events are not related to energy production but rather transmission issues.