In 2015, Hawaii made history, becoming the first US state to mandate a full transition to renewable energy. The legislation, signed into law by Gov. David Ige, mandated that state utilities generate 100 percent of electricity sales from renewable fuels by 2045.

Green energy publications noted that the move positioned Hawaii as "a pioneer in the quest to move toward a future free of fossil fuels." But some also offered a warning.

"Promises are easy to make," noted GreenBiz, a media company focused on renewable energy. "Achieving them is another story."

Leaders in the Aloha State are learning this the hard way.

'Going from Cigarettes to Crack'

In May, news broke that the state's largest supplier of electricity, Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO), was considering pulling the plug on development of a key new energy storage system.

In 2015, Hawaii made history, becoming the first US state to mandate a full transition to renewable energy. The legislation, signed into law by Gov. David Ige, mandated that state utilities generate 100 percent of electricity sales from renewable fuels by 2045.

Green energy publications noted that the move positioned Hawaii as "a pioneer in the quest to move toward a future free of fossil fuels." But some also offered a warning.

"Promises are easy to make," noted GreenBiz, a media company focused on renewable energy. "Achieving them is another story."

Leaders in the Aloha State are learning this the hard way.

'Going from Cigarettes to Crack'

In May, news broke that the state's largest supplier of electricity, Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO), was considering pulling the plug on development of a key new energy storage system.