To the Forum:The current sale of the Electric Company as well as the

plans to build a new oil powered plant that will emit smoke over our major

population area deserve serious attention.

Our current path of buying a

power company that is so reliant oil now and in the future is risky. Experts

say within 15 years oil reserves are going to diminish and fuel for our

dinosaur oil plants may become cost prohibitive. We will, however, still be

paying the 30 year note on the 270 million we’re going to borrow to buy the

plant that may be obsolete.

We need to begin investing our money in

renewable energy such as Hydroelectric, Solar, Windmills, Fuel Cells and

Biomass. The 270 million were spending on the old diesel plants can buy a

massive amount of this new technology.

The Island of Maui’s Solar program

is so successful that it was a feature article in the May issue of Solar Today

Magazine. Maui also just signed a contract to build a windfarm that coupled

with their Solar program will defer the necessity to build an oil fired

plant.

Kaua’i Electric’s Solar program, however is the laughing stock of

the Solar Industry. While the other Islands utilities are sponsoring thousands

of systems, Kaua’i limits the number of systems to loss then 70 per year.

Kaua’i Electric’s Energy Wise program actually impedes the growth of Solar

Water heating here because of their “selective” rebate process. On Maui and the

Big Island any homeowner can got a $1000, rebate toward the purchase of a Solar

Water heater. On Kaua’i “select” homeowners receive large rebates as much as

$4000 to $10,000. The qualification process is unfair since every rate payer

pays for the program as an adder to your bill called “Resource Cost Charge.” I

should know, since I’ve been a Solar Contractor on this island for 20 years and

worked as a Participating Energy Wise Contractor since its inception.

We

all need to take a better look at our future energy picture. Having the highest

rates in the nation should enable us to be the renewable energy model more so

then Maui.

Paul Lucas

Lawa’i