Construction Problems and Increasing Costs Affect

Hawaii has consistently ranked near the top of the list for higher living costs, but the rising costs of living in the state indicate how residents of the state are often subject to the whim of foreign markets, in support of the state’s push toward sustainability.

The only coal-fired energy plant in the state has shut down leading clean air efforts in the state. But the plant closure coincided with higher energy costs. The coal-fired plant had supplied about a fifth of Oahu’s electricity since 1992 but was also the island’s leading source of greenhouse gases.

A bill passed in the state in 2020 aimed at seeing coal energy production banned in the state by 2023 and ensuring the plant did not stay open past its 30-year contract. However, Hawaii remains reliant on other fossil fuels for its energy needs. While closing the coal plant reduced the emissions, the main utility in Oahu relies primarily on imported petroleum.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that Hawaii is more dependent on petroleum than any other state in the U.S. Hawaii had received a portion of its foreign oil from Russia, and the ongoing dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which led to the embargo on oil from Russia has led to sourcing petroleum from other countries and contributed to higher costs.

The need to construct solar-powered farms became evident in Hawaii, but supply chain issues have affected the construction efforts in the state. Permitting and contracting issues have also led to extreme delays that have limited the construction. However, the Mililani Solar Farm did come online during the same time the coal plant was closing.

Without the construction of new solar plants and facilities offering alternate energy sources, Hawaii will remain limited in energy use and will see higher prices. When permits are issued and the materials are available, the need for qualified construction workers will increase.

A green job using heavy equipment usually is thought of as being pretty destructive, right? Bulldozers doze, graders scrape, excavators make huge holes and trenches, and it has a huge impact on the environment. But it can be a positive impact because a skilled operator knows how to use their machine to do the job that’s needed with the least amount of damage.

What is a Green Job?

Green jobs encourage the use of renewable energy sources like geothermal, solar, nuclear, hydroelectric, and wind energy. If you have ever driven to Buffalo, New York and seen the massive wind turbines scattered to the southeast, you’ll see that even though those turbines are big and numerous, there’s land being farmed around them. You can see the big blades for miles before you see that they tower over many acres of crops. This is one example of a minimal disruption of the land with maximum energy returns and it took heavy equipment to do it.

The Green Job Initiative is designed to create a greater demand for heavy equipment operators who are able to meet the challenge of working in alternative energy industries. President Barak Obama signed this legislation opening 5 billion jobs, and many of them are going to be challenging, exciting, and satisfying careers for ATS grads.

Being trained with an eye on the future is what Green Jobs is all about, and that fits right in with the idea that it takes professionals with the best certifications and training to do the job with the least negative impact on the environment that we will all be living in. It’s good for the environment, good for the industry, and good for your job prospects as an ATS grad.