Hawaiian Electric Company, HECO, is proposing to use palm oil to fuel electricity generation in the Hawaiian islands. HECO is the biggest utility sector consumer of petroleum diesel in the country and the company says that when this transition is complete, it will be the largest single consumer of biodiesel in the United States.

The utility's policy is being challenged by environmental and Native Hawaiian groups, who say HECO's sustainability standards are not strong enough to protect Southeast Asian forests that are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations. They are concerned about environmental destruction, indigenous rights and impacts on forest and rural communities.