The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) is significantly behind schedule in achieving its mandated 2035 net-zero energy goal, having reached only approximately 12% of its target halfway to the deadline. This slow progress, particularly at its sprawling Mānoa campus, poses a substantial challenge to the state's broader renewable energy ambitions and continues to burden state taxpayers with high electricity costs. Despite the availability of necessary clean energy technologies, the university faces considerable hurdles in securing the estimated $200 million to $400 million in funding required for comprehensive infrastructure upgrades.

Enacted in 2015 by the Legislature to mitigate the university's substantial energy footprint, the net-zero mandate requires UH facilities to produce as much renewable energy as they consume from the grid. While smaller UH campuses have achieved this balance with relative ease, the Mānoa campus, which accounts for 60% of the entire UH system's electricity consumption, presents a unique complexity. Miles Topping, director of energy management at the university’s Office of Sustainability, noted that Mānoa's multi-story, fully air-conditioned research buildings operate continuously, making energy efficiency a formidable task.

The university's current strategy heavily relies on maximizing rooftop solar installations across the Mānoa campus. Topping indicated that even with an aggressive solar deployment plan, on-site solar alone is projected to meet only 40% to 50% of the campus's net-zero requirement. The significant capital expenditure, including the necessity of replacing aging roofs before solar panel installation, has stalled progress. Despite repeated requests, the Legislature has denied funding for the project for the past two years, exacerbated by a perceived deprioritization of renewable energy subsidies at the federal level. Henry Curtis, executive director of environmental nonprofit Life of the Land, emphasized, “Without tax support the projects will come at a higher price.”

To bridge the remaining energy gap and overcome funding impasses, UH is exploring alternative solutions. A recently signed state bill offers a promising avenue by prioritizing renewable energy expansion through enhanced rooftop solar access and, crucially, the introduction of "wheeling." This mechanism would enable the Mānoa campus to directly import renewable electricity from off-site generation facilities, such as the solar farm on UH land in west Oʻahu, which currently produces power for the grid but cannot be directly utilized by campus facilities. Isaac Moriwake, managing attorney of Earthjustice’s mid-Pacific office, expressed optimism, stating, “We have the technology, we have the plan. We just have to get out of our own way.”

Beyond generation, improving energy efficiency within existing campus buildings remains a critical component of the plan. A majority of Mānoa's energy consumption is attributed to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Future initiatives outlined in the annual UH Energy Report include the installation and monitoring of energy-efficient lighting, as well as upgrades to HVAC, office, and laboratory equipment. These combined efforts, alongside legislative support for off-site power integration, are essential for the University of Hawaiʻi to meet its ambitious 2035 net-zero energy target.