RES 249 Draft 01 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii has adopted the County of Hawaii Energy Sustainability Plan which calls for reducing our reliance on imported energy; and WHEREAS, global reserves of oil and natural gas are finite and sufficient substitutes are unlikely to be available in the immediate future; and WHEREAS, U.S. oil and natural gas production have peaked and are now in decline, ensuring our nation's continued and growing dependence on oil and natural gas imported from politically unstable regions; and WHEREAS, a growing body of energy industry experts believe that the world has already arrived at, or will soon arrive at, the peak of global oil production, which will be followed by an inevitable decline in available supply thereafter; and WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii and its citizens and businesses depend on oil and natural gas for their economic welfare and their most critical activities, including transportation and food supply; and WHEREAS, Hawaii Island spent $750,000,000.00 on imported energy in 2007; and WHEREAS, a large majority of money spent on fossil fuels leaves Hawaii Island and provides no local economic benefit, while many of the solutions to lessening dependence on fossil fuels result in local jobs and substantial economic benefits; and WHEREAS, energy consumption, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, accounts for more than 80 percent of the United'States' greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, reducing use of oil and natural gas also reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary cause of climate change; and WHEREAS, in 2007, the Hawaii State Legislature passed and Governor Lingle signed into law Act 234, which establishes a statewide policy for greenhouse gas emission limits at or below the statewide greenhouse gas emission levels in 1990 to be achieved by January 1, 2020; and WHEREAS, local government actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency provide multiple local benefits by decreasing air pollution, creating jobs, reducing energy expenditures, and saving money for the local government, its businesses and its residents; and WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii became the 500th member in United States to join International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability and become a partner in the Cities for Climate Protection® Campaign; and WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii has adopted a Zero Waste Resolution and Zero Waste Implementation Plan which calls for reducing, reusing and recycling our resources and creating green jobs; and 2