House panel sets hearing on Maui wildfires

A House committee investigating the deadly wildfires in Maui will bring in executives of a utility and two state agencies to testify.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) announced Thursday that a hearing examining the Hawaii fires will take place Sept. 28. 

“We MUST come to a complete understanding of how this disaster started to ensure Hawaii and other states are prepared to prevent and stop other deadly wildfires,” the Energy and Commerce Committee posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Shelee Kimura, the president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric; Leodoloff R. Asuncion Jr., the chairman of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission; and Mark B. Glick, the chief energy officer at the Hawaii State Energy Office, are expected to testify.

Rodgers and Griffith last month launched an investigation into the Maui fires with Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), the energy, climate and grid security subcommittee chairman.

“We are empowered to oversee energy supply, reliability of all power and regulation of energy resources throughout the country,” their letter said. “To that end, we seek a fuller understanding of the role, if any, of the electric infrastructure in this tragic event.”

The wildfires began Aug. 8 in the town of Lahaina, in west Maui, and became the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history. It was reported that a downed power line sparked in dry grasses in Lahaina may have contributed to the fire. 

“Information is also coming to light about actions taken — or not taken — by Hawaiian Electric to harden and modernize the electric grid of Maui in response to the growing risk of wildfires in recent years,” the committee’s press release said. 

As of Sept. 11, Gov. Josh Green (D) confirmed 115 people were dead and 3,210 structures were destroyed or damaged.