HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0701.039 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura
From: Richard Ha <richard@hamakuasprings.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2020 7:11 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Strong support Bill 131
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Aloha Chair Chung and Councilors
The Big Island Community Coalition supports Bill 131 because we support geothermal as the highest value
energy alternative to fossil fuel, which we must replace by 2045, and because it results in lower cost electricity
for the rubbah slippah folks. Bill 131 can help to position us to participate in the hydrogen economy, if not lead
it.
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A transportation hub located by the high school will allow students to walk over and catch a bus to participate in
after school events without having their parents drive them. The large buses can stay on the highway and the
smaller buses can go through the town and into the communities. But, that is a decision for the Mass Transit
Administrator Brenda Carreira. We're lucky to have her.
There are many things happening off our shores that will affect us. The BICC is paying close attention so we j
can help to position Hawaii in the best possible way for now and future generations.
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Speaking at an energy conference Tuesday in Houston, John Hess, CEO of New York-based oil firm Hess
Corp., warned that fewer investors want to put money in the oil and gas sector. Just five years ago,he said,
shale producers were darlings on Wall Street. Now investors have turned their backs on energy firms.
"There has been a big shift in investor sentiment," Hess said, "from what I'd call, `Drill, baby, drill' to `Show
me the money."'
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The oil companies have lost billions of dollars. They need higher oil prices.
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The county will receive three hydrogen buses soon. A transportation hub could start the development of a
hydrogen fuel cell transportation system. That combined with geothermal could set up the Big Island for stable
energy costs for electricity and transportation. The geothermal heat cost will not increase for thousands of years.
And because fossil fuel will not last forever it's price will go up, while geothermal prices will stay the same
giving the Big Island more of competitive advantage as time goes by.
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And because we are an island, lots of folks from all over the world would be interested to see how it works.
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Within the last two years many large companies and countries are now preparing for a hydrogen future. I just
saw on TV yesterday that Japan's Olympic torch has a hydrogen flame. That's a huge statement.
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Things take time. Hawaii needs to start preparing now. Bill 131 is a step along the way to a bright future for
Hawaii.
Aloha
Richard Ha Comm. No.
Ref. To:
President 1 Ref. tate FEB - 6 2024
Big Island Community Coalition