CIRA de CASTILLOTGI Staff Writer LIHU’E — The County Council has thrown its support behind the concept of a Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) bill that is making its way through the state Legislature. Council members voted Tuesday to send a
CIRA de CASTILLOTGI Staff Writer
LIHU’E — The County Council has thrown its support behind the concept of a
Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) bill that is making its way through the
state Legislature.
Council members voted Tuesday to send a letter to that
effect to committee chairs who are hearing the bill.
RPS legislation
requires qualified electric utility companies to possess a minimum percentage
of renewable energy resources within their overall portfolio of power
generation.
Members of the Kaua’i Renewable Energy Hui testified before the
Council in support of the bill saying it is perfect to put Kaua’i on the right
track toward energy sufficiency and economic opportunity.
Dely Sasaki,
representing Citizens for Clean Air, said the RSP bill could create the
opportunity for a renewable energy economy on Kaua’i.
Dr. Donald Aitken,
senior research scientist for renewable energy for the Union of Concerned
Scientists, explained that “renewables portfolio standard” 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.
Alton Miyamoto, Kauai Electric director of planning, said
the company has problems with the bill because barriers exist that would not
make renewables, at this time, the least cost effective fuel for
customers.
He said, however, that KE supports the concepts of renewable
energy and that 17 percent of KE generation comes from renewable sources.
