HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0450.002 2004-2006 {'age I oC2
Carvalho, Kamomihoohiki
From: vhfaloha [vhfaloha@gte.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 9:59 AM
To: Ikeda, Donald
Subject FreeBus Proposal
The Mayor's proposal to provide Free Buses should not be allowed to proceed for many
reasons.
Mainly, there is no such thing as a "Free" anything.
Thus it becomes another "feel good" program which is really an expense or involuntary tax
(the worst form of tax) which will quickly escalate out of control.
There are many of these programs already in the County budget.
Simply stated, buses will not work for the majority of the people because the do not go where
most people need to go.
If you would like to do something to benefit all the people on the island consider taking the
same
amount of money and putting it into the development of something like this.
Our Island could be the showcase for the nation on this new but working technology:
Hawaii: Catch a Wave Energy
By Rep. Cynthia l'hielen, 9/21 /2005 2:03:38 1'M
I recently attended the 6th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference in Scotland, an
international gathering of scientists and government and industry leaders involved in the field
of wave- and tidal-delivered energy.
I presented a proclamation from Gov. Linda Lingle, expressing her commitment to move
Hawaii to the use of 20 percent renewable energy for power by 2020. And I invited scientists
and engineers to consider Hawaii for their wave-energy projects, noting what they knew
already, that Hawaii has one of the best, most energetic and most consistent wave climates in
the world.
Wave energy could provide all of the needed power for the Neighbor Islands and
approximately 80 percent of the power for Oahu.
Our misguided dependence on fossil fuel is adding 16.6 percent to residents' electric bills, due
to the rising cost of oil (The Honolulu Advertiser, Aug. 25).
EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., has identified Hawaii as a
leading site for wave-energy development. EPRI says coastal wave energy has nine to 10
times the energy provided by U.S. hydroelectric dams.
So what's the holdup to harnessing energy from waves? HECO is reluctant to use this source
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9/23/2005
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because oil is easier. But once a wave project is developed and in place, it can provide power
at 5 cents per kw. HECO's cost to consumers on Oahu is 17.6 cents per kw and on
Molokai, MECO's cost is 28.8 cents per kw.
Some wave technology has matured and is hooked up to the grid. Ocean Power Delivery Ltd.
in the Scottish Orkneys is providing power to 500 homes.
There are several wave energy efforts already moving ahead. They include Pelamis, a wave
technology appropriate for our Islands, which is constructing three 750-kw wave machines, the
initial phase of a 20-mg project in North Portugal.
Wave Dragon, developed in Denmark, is aslack-moored wave-energy converter, with 15,600
hours of experience. It won't be long until it will provide electricity for 40,000 to 60,000 homes
from seven units.
Ocean energy has the ability to turn on the lights for Hawaii within 10 years, much faster and
with more natural power than wind. A small project should go on-line in December at Marine
Corps Base Hawaii. But we need more.
State tax credits exist for investment in non-fossil fuel energy, which is a qualified high-tech
business. The federal energy bill includes ocean renewable-energy provisions. The framework
is in place. It's time that ratepayers insist HECO catch a wave.
Rep. Cynthia Thielen is a Republican in the Hawaii State House of Representatives who
represents District 50 (Kailua, Mdkapu).
9/23/2005