HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0336.002 2012-2014 Margaret Wille *11,9.f Phone No.Hilo: (808)961-8027
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Council Member cP°• +.,'.. Phone No. Waimea: (808)887-2043
District 9-North and South Kohala •• Fax No.: (808)887-2072
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E-Mail: mwille @co.hawaii.hi.us
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HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai
Hawaii County Building Holomua Center West Hawai'i Civic Center Bldg.A
25 Aupuni Street 64-1067 Mamalahoa Highway,Suite C-5 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Waimea, Hawaii 96743 Kailua-Kona, Hawai ,96740
TO: J Yoshimoto, Council Chair ° n
and Members of the Hawai`i County Council c -moo
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FROM: Margaret Wille, Council Member w -�
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DATE: July 22, 2013
SUBJECT: Additional Information Regarding Communication 336 N -
Please find attached a letter of support from Mike Kane, Board Member\Treasurer of Plug In
America.
Thank you.
MW/dh
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Comm: Ng, . .2.
Ref.
Ref. Date AL � C
Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island te 2 3 201
Hawai`i County Is An Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer
Plug In
July 23, 2013
Honorable Council Members,
Hawaii County has a unique opportunity to create a fully sustainable energy economy based
on locally produced energy. In fact, Hawaii County may,within our lifetime, find itself in
the position of a net energy exporter.The move away from petroleum based energy cannot
be accomplished however without transforming our transportation sector.
The adoption of plug-in vehicles, which get some or all of their motive power from the
electric grid or locally produced renewable energy, is an important step which will allow the
county to move more rapidly away from petroleum as an energy source, and take advantage
of locally produced energy. This move will ultimately bring lower energy costs to all Hawaii
residents while improving the local economy and addressing both local air quality and
global warming issues.
Three years ago it was almost impossible to purchase a plug-in vehicle. Today there are over
13 models available in showrooms across the US. At least 4 models are currently in use in
Hawaii County. The Nissan LEAF, Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Volt and Prius Plug-in. While
Hawaii County may not have the largest number of vehicles in the state,we certainly drive
the furthest distances. One of the best ways that the county can help to promote further
adoption of this important technology advancement is to support the construction of fast
charging stations at strategic locations around the county. This would not only allow the
existing plug-in vehicles in the county to be used for a larger percentage of trips, it would
also help to overcome a major obstacle to plug-in vehicle ownership in the county
accelerating the adoption of plug-in vehicles in the County.
Plug In America is the leading plug-in vehicle advocacy group in the nation and the author
of the "Hawaii EV Ready Guidebook for Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Installations" produced for the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development
and Tourism.
We strongly urge the Council to adopt policies to accelerate the placement of additional
charging in strategic locations around the county supporting countywide use of plug-in
vehicles.
Sincerely,
fiklA
Mike Kane
Board Member—Treasurer
Plug In America
2370 Market Street#419 San Francisco CA 94114
Plug In America is a 5o1(c)(3)non-profit organization.EIN#26-1799615.
Plug In America drives change.We accelerate the shift to plug-in vehicles powered by clean,affordable,
domestic electricity to reduce our nation's dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment.