Renewable energy legislation could save money for Kauaians

LIHU’E — Among the many bills expected to be debated in the state Legislature

this session is one related to renewable energy resources.

House Bill 1883,

currently before the Legislature’s Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP)

committee, was introduced by House Speaker Calvin Say and referred to Kaua’i

Rep. Mina Morita’s EEP committee.

It addresses something called

“renewables portfolio standards,” which is public policy legislation assuring

that a minimum amount of renewable energy is included in the portfolio of

electricity resource providers in the state.

Last Saturday at the War

Memorial Convention Hall, Hilo-born Dr. Donald Aitken, senior research

scientist for renewable energy for the Union of Concerned Scientists, presented

an overview and explained details and benefits of public policy legislation

related to “renewables portfolio standards.”

Aitken told an audience of

more than 75 Kaua’i citizens and several utility company representatives that

“renewables portfolio standards” is a flexible, market- driven mechanism that

seeks to ensure that development of energy generated by wind, solar, biomass

and other renewables are supported through public policy.

Atkin said

“renewables portfolio standards” relies almost entirely on private market

implementation, with public policy support, and creates competition, efficiency

and innovation in delivering renewable energy at the lowest possible

cost.

“I think the present Legislative session is an extraordinary moment

in history,” said Atkin. “I had 17 one on one visits with Legislators yesterday

including the leadership in both houses and was seeing their support for the

concepts of renewables portfolio standards. If the utilities say this is the

way to go, this would be the real turn around for Hawaii.”

Developing

renewable energy resources on Kaua’i was at the center of community discussions

in recent months when the County Planning Commission approved permits to build

a new fossil fuel utility plant in Hanama’ulu, and a bid to purchase Kaua’i

Electric (KE), the sole provider of electricity and gas utility for Kaua’i, was

made by a local consortium. “The support for renewal energy begins with

effective policy from the state Legislature, and HB1883 on renewables portfolio

standards defines that policy for the state,” said Morita.

“This is an

educational process not only for the Legislators but for the general public to

know what our options are and who is responsible for certain areas of utility

oversight, development and policy.”

The idea of going to a portfolio, the

idea of getting the state agencies that regulate utilities bound by the same

policy is important, said Alton Miyamoto, KE director of planning.

“I

agree with Mina on this, I think she is heading in the right

direction.”

Gary Hooser, Kaua’i County Council economic development

committee chair, who along with Morita and Life of the Land sponsored

Saturday’s meeting, said he was interested to hear of the job creation benefits

of renewable energy projects.

The concepts, he said, are not “pie in the

sky” and reducing Kaua’i dependence on oil, which is currently rising in price

again, is a realistic goal.

At a presentation for County Council members

earlier this month, Dr. Steve Albers of the Department of Business Economic

Development and Tourism, Energy Division, explained that Kaua’i residents are

the most conservative electricity users of the four major islands.

“On

Kaua’i residents are using 25 percent less electrical energy (compared to the

other counties) and due to the Iniki reconstruction are the highest rate

payers. Total dependence on oil and fluctuations in the market price of oil

make Kaua’i vulnerable to increases in the cost of electricity.”

Atkin

said Kaua’i is probably the most gifted in the state. With the combination of

high energy costs and resource availability, no community is more ready than

Kaua’i to benefit from renewable energy, he said.

“You’re ready, the

technology is here and having the political policy will move Kaua’i forward,”

said Atkin.