The last operating coal-fired power plant in Hawaii has been shut down.

The last shipment of coal to the electricity plant arrived at the end of July. The AES Corporation coal plant closed for good on Thursday after 30 years of operation. About one and a half million people live on Oahu, the state's most populous island. Up to one-fifth of the electricity needed here was produced from this closed plant.

The coal plant was shut down to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Coal plays a major role in producing greenhouse gases. Shutting down coal plants could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.5 million metric tons, says Hawaii Governor David Ige.

Like other Pacific islands, the Hawaiian island chain is experiencing the impacts of climate change. High sea temperatures and rapid sea level rise are causing the destruction of coral reefs. And storms and droughts increase the risk of wildfires.

In 2020, the Hawaii Legislature passed a law calling for the phase-out of coal for power generation by early 2023. The Act also states that by 2045, the country must switch to renewable energy. Hawaii is the first state to pass such a law.