Hawaiian Telcom announced this week that it has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
The greatest amount of carbon savings for the company will come from providing fiber-optic services to customers across the state. The plan also includes transitioning some of Hawaiian Telcom's fleet to electric vehicles, energy-efficient improvements to its facilities, and adding more onsite solar systems where feasible, according to Nadja Turek, director of sustainability for Hawaiian Telcom and other brands within its parent company altafiber.
"Our investment to expand our fiber-optic network not only improves the reliability of broadband connectivity and advances digital equity in our islands, but also significantly reduces our carbon footprint," Turek told PBN in an email. "Our 100% fiber-optics internet service uses less energy and, over time, will replace our legacy energy-intensive copper network."
In 2021, Hawaiian Telcom invested nearly $100 million to expand and support its fiber network expansion efforts, according to the company.
The company did not immediately comment on the total anticipated cost of future efforts to reduce emissions, or who will pay for it.
"Our investment in our customers is also an investment in our environment," Turek said. "For example, since fiber is more reliable and does not require as much maintenance, it reduces the number of service calls and carbon emissions from our fleets."
Hawaiian Telcom’s long-term target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2040, according to the company.
"We are formulating a unique climate action plan – one that is specific to our businesses' opportunities for efficiencies and modernization, and outlines the actions we will take to achieve our ambitious goal and the associated investments and savings," Turek said. "...Connecting people while enhancing environmental quality and health in our communities is our vision and policy at Hawaiian Telcom. Aligned with many of our industry counterparts across the nation, we feel it’s our responsibility to do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We also recognize our kuleana to support the state’s transition to renewable energy to meet the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative targets."
Cincinnati Bell, the company that acquired Hawaiian Telcom in 2018, changed its name to altafiber in March of 2022 to "reflect the company's commitment to fiber expansion to increase broadband connectivity to more locations," a spokesperson for Hawaiian Telcom told PBN.
