Multiple sources report that Hawaii has secured $18.5 million in federal funding to support $25 million in electrical grid resilience and hazard mitigation investments across Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu. The funding, announced August 31, will back five projects focused on protecting the grid from wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes, with completion targeted between 2027 and 2029.
- The Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaiian Electric, and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) partnered to secure the federal grant
- Funding comes from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HMGP) and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program (Kpua)
- Five projects are planned: West Maui electric grid hazard identification and mapping, a distribution digital twin for early power-quality detection, Energy Management System upgrades for real-time monitoring, and a hazard risk assessment for Maui
- Five Critical Customer Hubs (CCHs) will be established in West Maui and Windward Oahu to keep essential facilities — including fire stations, police stations, medical facilities, grocery stores, pharmacies, and fuel stations — operational during prolonged outages
- Upgrades are designed to reduce outage frequency, speed service restoration, and enable rapid de-energization of grid sections for safety
- All five projects are scheduled for completion between 2027 and 2029
Sources
- Governor of Hawaii: Hawaiʻi to Receive $18.5M to Fund Grid Resilience and Hazard Mitigation Projects
- Kpua: Hawaiʻi to Receive $18.5 Million to Fund Grid Resilience and Hazard Mitigation Projects
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