CIRA de CASTILLOTGI Staff Writer LIHU’E — Alan Kennett, Gay & Robinson president and general mananger, speaking before the County Council recently said that reducing Kaua’i’s dependence on fossil fuel to generate electric power while at the same time protecting
CIRA de CASTILLOTGI Staff Writer
LIHU’E — Alan Kennett, Gay & Robinson president and general mananger,
speaking before the County Council recently said that reducing Kaua’i’s
dependence on fossil fuel to generate electric power while at the same time
protecting the sugar industry was more than viable concept.
“We can grow
all the energy we need right here on Kaua’i,” said Kennett enthusiastically.
No other crop is better or faster to produce than sugar, he said. Sugar
can be burned to create bioenergy, an alternative kind of electrical power
generation.
“And we know how to grow sugar,” Kennett said.
Using the
crop this way would benefit ratepayers , protect jobs, and keep the sugar
industry in production.
Testifying to support the councils endorsement of
the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) bill that is being considered by the
2000 Legislature, Kennett told the Council that sugar prices, at 17cents a
pound, are the lowest since1976. A record low price that is a disaster for the
entire domestic sugar industry.
“No producer in Hawaii can make it at
these prices and that can have frightening consequences for the
Island.”
“I cant bear to think of this island without sugar,” he said.
He also told the Council that President Clinton has proposed research
funding and tax credits to promote energy efficiency, bioenergy, and other
clean energy sources and that bills like the RPS will have only a positive
effect to make Kaua’i less dependent on oil.
“Tax incentives are important
to moving this industry along,” Kennett said.
Kennett explained that
bioenergy, part of the RPS bill, can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas
emissions that contribute to global warming and since crops absorb carbon
during growth, their use for energy and other applications results in near zero
net carbon release. Kennett said he understands that the utility companies are
doing what is best for their business but they depend on oil and that oil
prices are unstable and unpredictable. He noted that oil prices are on the rise
again and so is the cost of electricity.
Councilmember Gary Hooser, who
requested the council support the RPS bill, asked Kennett if G&R would be
have to do capitol investment in the technology to burn cane to energy , in
essence becoming an Independent Power Producer (IPP). Kennett said yes but that
would be an investment in preserving the sugar industry.
Introduce at the
legislature by Rep. Mina Morita and the RPS bill (HB1883) has support from the
Departments of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Commerce and
Consumer Affairs, the Consumer Advocate, County of Kauai Office of Economic
Development, Puna Geothermal, Zond Pacific, UH Environmental Center, Green
Islands Corp. among others.
Although supporting the concept of renewable
energy the Public Utilities Commission and Kaua’i and Hawaiian Electric
companies did not support to the RPS bill which after the Legislative recess
will be picked up in the House committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
