Partisan friction creates heat, not energy conservation

Letter to the Editor
The Maui News
Saturday, February 14, 2004

Rep. Brian Blundell's Feb. 1 letter brings to light the long-standing issue of energy dependence that our state, our legislators and our people have struggled to address over the years. I appreciate his devotion to the issue and expect his support on the wide range of bills I am passing out of the Energy and Environment Committee when they cross over to the House.

Contrary to the suggestion made by the representative from Lahaina, I believe that the Sierra Club is a respectable and independent environmental organization that should not be used as a partisan tool to influence any particular party agenda when it happens to coincide with the Sierra Club's environmental goals.

Alternative energy production is of great importance to Hawaii, and I have worked on various fronts over the years to address our dependence on imported oils. Through tax incentives and energy efficiency initiatives, I have created policies to promote renewable energy production and distribution in our state.

Renewable portfolio standards, the basis of the governor's admirable 20 percent by 2020 policy, are not a new idea in environmental policy. I have passed various bills out of my committee attempting to implement such standards. I am also working to promote alternative fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

As a senator deeply concerned with Hawaii's fossil-fuel dependence, the governor has my support for renewable energy to light our shared vision for Hawaii's future.

Sen. J. Kalani English
6th District,
Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe

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