HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0421.092 2012-2014 Council Testimon CO T c� �?
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From: Ed Wagner <ed.j.wagner @gmail.com> O jj 4: 01
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 12:28 PM NB SEP 3
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: drquirk @openmindedmd.com;johncarro001 @hawaii.rr.com
Subject: Testimony OPPOSED To Bill 129
Attachments: HEI Complaint, Summons.pdf; Untitled attachment 00016.htm
Aloha.
Regarding fracking, you should realize that there is a great misconception about geothermal fracking in this
state. It has never been used in Hawaii nor will it ever be used in Hawaii to drill new bore holes to Further our
development of geothermal energy.
toured Iceland recently, including one of its geothermal power plants. I lere are 2 message 1 emailed to Senator
Mike Gabbard. Senator Solomon, and others from Iceland. I highlighted the question I asked about tracking.
Iceland is much like I lawaii, but cold. It has majestic mountains, snow covered peaks, volcanoes, geothermal
energy, and lots and lots of basalt black sand beaches, rivers, and fields. Iceland would probably be happy to
sell Hawaii some black sand to replenish or expand Big Island beaches, unless of course such an effort would be
unacceptable to Madam Pele. Some of the sand is much finer than what I remember on the Big Island. It
resembles flour in its fineness, but does vary in coarseness from one location to another.
Ireland only has 320,000 residents with 2/3 of that living in Reykjavik, but the country is very self-sufficient
with all of its power generated by hydro and geothermal for more than 50 years. Before that. coal was used. and
oil is only used for transportation.
The geothermal and hydroelectric plants are publicly / government owned utilities, much like what we need in
I Iawaii to end the Wolf( Fox ) Electric Industries monopoly. Any "profits" go back to the government to pay
for the power plant construction, maintenance, and back to the people for other services or further power plant
:C�elupnient if needed.
I purchased a hook about the geothermal energy plant we visited and obtained brochures for the energy
companies that work with other countries as well as the company that built the most recent geothermal power
plant. It put its 7th generator online in 2011. The current capacity is 330 MW. The geothermal plants use for
more advanced flash technology, not the old binary technology used by HECO's monopoly partner, PGV. The
plant was quite impressive, modern. and spotlessly clean.
�9nc specific question I asked was about "tracking" which seems to concern some Hawaii residents,
including Senator Ruderman. The answer - no fracking in geothermal bore hole drilling! It is used for
extracting oil and gas from rock or shale. One interesting comment by the guide, however, is that
earthquakes are a form of tracking. /�
Comm. No. 1710?.../ q2.•
Ref.To: P/Gtsl,t,nr..
1 Ref. Date,OCT 0 2 2013
Iceland grows all of its vegetables and some fruits such as strawberries in greenhouses, all heated by geothermal
energy.
Residents only pay $80 a month for hot and cold water, electricity, and geothermal hot water heat. Electricity
cost .08 cents /kWh but used to be .05 cents.
I lawaii could learn much from this small country.
Malama Pono,
Aloha,
y1v tour guide provided me with updated information about Iceland power costs after I sent my first message.
Residents currently pay .05 cents / kWh, not .08. However, industry pays less that a penny or .0083 cents.
80% of power production is for industry while 20% is for residential use.
Much of the energy development in Iceland over the years has come from 3 aluminum processing plants. The
first aluminum plant opened in 1966. The newest one in 2007. European loans were made to build the
:eothcrmal and hydro plants so the fees charged for electricity goes to repayment of the loans.
The farmers who grow food in greenhouses pay .02-.03 cents /kWh but want to pay the same rate as industry
because they need to make a profit too.
In Hawaii, farmers can't survive because of high electric rates too , so let's stop talking about coops or state
owed utilities for each island and just do it! It is time for the legislature to develop coop plans for passage in the
.'014 session.
\Ialama Pono,
Furthermore, a similar bill introduced by Senator Russell Ruderman in the 2013 session of the state Legislature
was rejected for the same reason.
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I lie class action lawsuit tiled yesterday by Honolulu attorney, John Carroll, will change the paradigm.
On Wednesday afternoon, September 25, 1-lonolulu attorney, John Carroll, filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of
the First Circuit, State of Hawaii, charging the State of Hawaii with breach of the public trust for its failure to
address the State's energy crisis to the satisfaction of its residents.
The defendants in the case are the State of Hawaii and Neil S. Abercrombie, sued in his capacity as the
Iovernor of the State, responsible for the faithful execution of State law.
For further information please contact:
JOHN S. CARROLL, 0649-0
Clifford Center. Suite 810
;10 Richards Street
I lonolulu. Hawaii 96813
Phone: 808 526-9111
I'Thai!: jol_ ncarro001 hawaii.rr.com
Submitted by Ed Wagner of Mililani, Oahu, State of Hawaii, a long time resident and energy advocate with one
of the most energy and water efficient homes in the state.
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