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w�v or <br /> . .` .'. Wil Okabe <br /> � y4i , Managing Director <br /> Harry Kim <br /> Mayor -'T•r. <br /> Barbara J.Kossow <br /> • <br /> \r or x��► Deputy Managing Director <br /> (gaunt of C atuat`i <br /> ®ftteAfthe Agar <br /> 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> June 27, 2019 <br /> Mr. Danny Karpf <br /> Head of School <br /> Rodelph Sholom School <br /> 168 West 79' Street <br /> New York, NY 10024 <br /> Dear Mr. Karpf: <br /> Our office received a letter from three fifth grade students of your school on June 25, <br /> 2019, appealing to the County of Hawaii to use renewable energy. <br /> The students, Alik, Jack and Joshua, specifically asked that Hawaii County use <br /> geothermal energy. I am happy to report that our island has a facility, Puna Geothermal <br /> Venture, which at peak capacity provides one-third of our island's electric power. The Kilauea <br /> eruption in 2018 threatened the facility, and it was shut down amid safety concerns. Now that <br /> the threat of inundation has ended, the privately-owned geothermal facility is gearing up to <br /> resume operations. <br /> Your students may be aware that solar power use in Hawaii is the highest per capita in <br /> the United States, and our Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority on our island's west <br /> side is a leader in use of deep ocean water power generation. Wind power pumps our County's <br /> water wells in Waikoloa, and privately-operated wind turbines are in use in other strategic <br /> locations where wind is consistent. <br /> I appreciate the concern for the future of our planet expressed by your students, <br /> embodied by Tikkun Olam—the desire to repair the world, and I want you to know that we in <br /> Hawaii County share that desire to make the world a better place. Please convey our response <br /> to your students' letter in any way you see fit. <br /> Aloha <br /> Harry Kim <br /> MAYOR <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />