Paradise saved: Nuclear Energy Working Group says No to Nukes in Hawai’i

Aloha! The UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities were delighted to hear that the Nuclear Energy Working Group in its recent report for the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office has recommended to legislators that nuclear should not be pursued as an energy option for the beautiful Pacific island state.

Lynda Williams, a physicist and environment activist based in Hilo, participated in the work of the group as a representative of campaign group 350 Hawai’i. Lynda spoke on a recent online meeting of the Transatlantic Nuclear Free Alliance, also attended by NFLA Secretary Richard Outram, about the threat posed to the island idyll by new nuclear. Pro-nuclear legislators on the island had been pushing for constitutional changes to permit the introduction of the technology, and the Working Group was established in the wake of these demands.

The NFLAs covered that threat in an earlier media release:

https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/news/paradise-lost-island-idyll-faces-new-nuclear-threat/

Now the report has brought good news. The report can be read in full at:

https://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SCR136_AdvancedNuclearHawaii_2025LegReport.pdf

On page four of the report, in the Executive Summary its states: ‘The working group largely concurred that Hawai‘i should not serve as a test case for any advanced nuclear demonstration projects, given the current lack of specific information and uncertainty regarding related costs of the technology, the state’s geographic isolation, permitting challenges, and the various logistical challenges and safety needs associated with transporting and managing nuclear waste. The report outlines unanswered questions associated with advanced nuclear reactors most applicable to Hawai‘i. Until these questions are resolved within the industry, the working group considers any constitutional or regulatory changes to be premature.’ 

One hurdle to new nuclear would be a requirement for the proposal to pass with a two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature. In Article XI, Section 8 of the Hawai’i State Constitution, which covers Energy Policy, it states that: ‘The use of nuclear fission energy for the production of electrical energy shall be prohibited unless two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature by concurrent resolution determine that the use of nuclear fission energy is in the best interests of the people of Hawaiʻi.’ 

Lynda has also published a helpful article on the community blog Civil Beat. It can be read at https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/01/nuclear-power-isnt-viable-in-hawaii/

Ends

For further information about this media release please contact NFLA Secretary Richard Outram by email to richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk or telephone 07583097793.