Sun editorial:

Energy transformation

Hawaii, determined to kick its oil dependency, is alive with renewable energy projects

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

Aloha, which can mean either hello or goodbye, is an especially appropriate word now in Hawaii. The Aloha State is saying hello to renewable energy and goodbye to fossil fuels.

A plan to generate at least 70 percent of Hawaii’s energy from clean, renewable sources by 2030 is being led out of the governor’s office, and for a good reason.

Here is what Republican Gov. Linda Lingle says on the state’s Web page: “Oil pollutes the environment, transfers billions of dollars out of our economy year after year and leaves us dependent on the goodwill of foreign countries and companies for our very survival.”

Hawaii derives 77 percent of its energy from imported oil, rendering it the most oil-dependent state in the country. Fourteen percent of its energy comes from coal-fired power plants and only 9 percent from renewable sources.

Lingle, determined to move Hawaii toward a cleaner and far more independent energy future, announced the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in January 2008. The initiative involves an unprecedented partnership with the U.S. Energy Department, which is helping the state with the technical aspects of connecting its six main islands with transmission lines and integrating the various sources of power.

Today the state is receiving national attention for the number and types of renewable energy projects it has begun. The New York Times, for example, wrote this week that Hawaii has the most diverse array of alternative energy potential of any state in the union, and that it is aggressively putting that potential to good use.

The story pointed out that Gov. Lingle is not shrinking from the many obstacles in the way of transforming Hawaii’s energy future, but is meeting the challenges head on. She is coordinating with all the players, including the federal government, utilities, renewable energy developers and residents.

Lingle’s leadership is a good model for Nevada, where the governor’s office has not acted urgently on renewable energy and, as a result, development is slow in light of the potential.

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

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By POWERPLAY

Sept. 18, 2009

5:31 a.m.

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NOW THATS A FUNNY STORY: Here is a state (Hawaii) that tried to get everbody under 18 on a state run health insurance program back in 2007 just to watch it go broke in 7 months. Now the Las Vegas Sun thinks there going to show us here in Nevada just how to switch out to renewable energy for a cleaner and better future. YEA WHATEVER!
By Sunlizard

Sept. 18, 2009

8:31 a.m.

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Le's see. That would mean industrial wind (killing the birds and mucking up the view)

Tidal power(killing coral reefs and marine ecosystems)

Not really enough land for solar enegy sprawl,but you never know.

Geothermal (arsnic and extreme water use)

Hawaii should stay beautiful. Not become an energy eyesore.
By Patrick_R_Gibbons

Sept. 18, 2009

10:43 a.m.

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Hawaii isn't known for its bright ideas. A few years ago it attempted to fix gas prices with a price ceiling. The result was that gas prices averaged a rate that was higher than what it would have been if they let the market work.

Hawaii also isn't doing very well when it comes to poverty. Then again, government seems to have a way of making problems worse when it thinks it can fix them.
By Audit

Sept. 18, 2009

3:40 p.m.

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Roof-top Solar PV is price competitive. Electricity generated using oil is expensive!

"For example, the average price paid per kWh by residential customers in March 2009, on Oahu was 19.0 cents, and on the Big Island was 30.7 cents. For Maui County the average price paid per kWh by residential customers in March 2009, on Maui was 24.0 cents, on Molokai was 32.4 cents, and on Lanai was 31.1 cents."

http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/
click rates
By El_Lobo

Sept. 18, 2009

3:48 p.m.

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I see some of the usual "conservatives" are out posting their normal rant. Maybe Hawaii will not get it done when it comes to switching from the use of fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy but guess what? They are making the attempt.

Good luck to them and their governor, Linda Lingle, for her foresight. Did anyone take notice? Governor Lingle is a Republican. Wow! Maybe there's still some hope for the GOP.

A Republican governor with a progressive mind set! Not since Teddy Roosevelt was the governor of New York has that happpened.......wonderful!

Of course, FOX NEWS and right-wing radio will be saying that she should be run out of the party for her views....Darn that Lingle gal....probably a socialist wearing the cloak of a Republican....
By Patrick_R_Gibbons

Sept. 18, 2009

3:52 p.m.

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El_Lobo, gamblers are taking a step toward becoming rich, doesn't mean it will work.
By Patrick_R_Gibbons

Sept. 18, 2009

3:53 p.m.

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Teddy was also a nationalist, hawk, and a bit of a socialist...

This was back when Republicans were, not surprisingly "progressives" and on the left-wing (By today's standards). Interestingly, Christians were also noted for their love of big government at the time.
By El_Lobo

Sept. 18, 2009

9:49 p.m.

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PRG.....

Not sure what your point is with Teddy? Teddy was not opposed to big business but he was opposed to big business that became monopolistic..

Today's Wall Street "big wigs" wouldn't always like Teddy if he was around today....

He thought a certain amount of regulation was a good thing....Wasn't a "free market freak."

Don't agree that he was a bit of a socialist, however. Maybe you're saying that because Teddy would be for today's health care reform....

That wouldn't make him a socialist.....

Teddy would be riding on the back of the donkey if he was living today! Yes, he was a hawk but his bark was often worse than his bite....
By El_Lobo

Sept. 18, 2009

9:55 p.m.

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PRG said...

"El_Lobo, gamblers are taking a step toward becoming rich, doesn't mean it will work."

You are correct but it's very difficult to move forward if one just continues to stand in the same spot....