VIEWPOINT: Legislature to examine alternative energy, an idea whose time has come

The Maui News
Monday, January 16, 2006

(Also published in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sunday, January 22, 2006)

By J. KALANI ENGLISH

One of the key issues of the 2006 Legislature is energy – where it comes from, what it costs, and how it is produced. To keep our state’s economy moving, we need to find ways to conserve, and we need to explore new energy sources. The ideas are in place; the laws are on the books. Our task for the future is putting ideas into practice.

I am pleased to learn that Gov. Linda Lingle views alternative energy and fuel conservation as essential elements in her legislative package, and that her administration is prepared to build upon the work the Legislature has done in recent years to advance those goals.

As the chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, I have introduced legislation over the years aimed at:

- Reducing Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels.

- Moving the state toward the use of renewable energy, and setting realistic deadlines for meeting that goal.

- Creating incentives for private industry to develop alternative sources of energy.

Mandating the application of energy-efficient, environmentally sound practices to the construction of new state buildings.

Hawai’i’s energy situation is critical. We burn more oil to produce electricity than any other state. Our geographic isolation makes us especially vulnerable to disruptions in the worldwide production of oil. We have a potentially crippling dependence on forces far beyond our control.

Alternative energy would seem to be a goal everyone could embrace. Solar and wind power, biomass and ocean energy all have tremendous potential. As new systems come on line, the cost of energy is bound to drop. Yet Hawaii has moved slowly toward energy self-sufficiency.

The opposition has come from those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, but their arguments lose value with each passing year. It’s unrealistic to expect that the price of fossil fuels will drop in the future. Experience suggests that it has nowhere to go but up.

A key concept in energy reform is the Renewable Portfolio Standard. This is the notion that a certain percentage of the state’s energy should come from renewable sources – combined with a timeline to reach that goal. Hawaii has adopted an RPS of 20 percent by the end of 2020.

The measure that is currently in place is flawed, and fixing it will be one of my top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. As written, it has loopholes that will slow its implementation. Once those are closed, we will have meaningful legislation.

Net Energy Metering is another energy reform that is now on the books. Like the Renewable Portfolio Standard, it will offer real savings to the consumer as soon as key decisions are made about how it will be administered. Net Energy Metering encourages the use of renewable energy generators by making renewable energy cost-effective – a key principle behind the state’s new focus on energy reform.

Another idea that is coming to the fore is the LEED standard for the development of sustainable, energy-efficient construction methods. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” and it’s another example of energy reform that has met with its share of opposition through the years. The administration now recognizes that construction that applies the LEED standard pays for itself in a very short time and leads to significant costs savings for Hawaii’s taxpayers over the long haul.

The Hawaii Energy Policy Forum has created a comprehensive 10-point plan that charts a course for Hawaii’s energy future. It calls for the development of renewable energy sources from material already available to us. It encourages the development of solar energy, hydrogen, ethanol, and biofuels. It strikes a balance between sound energy policy and the energy needs of Hawaii’s people. It commits the state to investment in sustainable communities and the reduction of energy costs. Details of the plan can be found at www.hawaiienergypolicy.hawaii.edu/.

Whether in the development of renewable energy sources or building design, Hawaii’s state government can lead the way. Government is in a unique position to set standards, create incentives, establish timelines, and lead by example.

Despite the undeniable crisis conditions we face, there is reason to hope. For the first time in our history, we have the bipartisan political will to move the state toward energy self-sufficiency.

I look forward to working with the Lingle administration as we move from the idea stage to the real work before us – the implementation of sound ideas whose time has finally come.

J. Kalani English is the state senator from the 6th District (East Maui, Molokai, Lanai). He chairs the Senate Energy, Environment and International Affairs Committee.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=16091

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