Apollo Kaua‘i queried candidates

Apollo Kauai asked all Kaua‘i candidates running for County Council, mayor or state representative seven questions to help determine their knowledge and stance on energy related issues.

Candidates who chose to respond were council candidates George Anderson, Tim Bynum, William DeCosta, Ming Fang, Jay Furfaro, Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, Ron Kouchi, K.C. Lum, Monroe Richman and JoAnn Yukimura.

Mayoral candidates who responded were Bryan Baptiste, Jesse Fukushima, John Hoff and Bruce Pleas. Candidates for State Representative who responded were Mina Morita (unopposed), Linda Estes, Ron Agor, Joanne Georgi and Rhoda Libre.

The first six questions required a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response with space for comments. The last question was open-ended. The unedited responses of the participating candidates can be found on the Apollo Web site at www.apollokauai.org.

Apollo has selected some excerpts from the candidates’ comments that we found interesting, insightful, knowledgeable, or in strong alignment with the Apollo mission to assist Kaua‘i in becoming energy self-sufficient in an environmentally responsible way.

Visit the Web site www.apollokauai.org for more information about energy alternatives and to read the candidates’ responses in full.

Question One: Would you sign a resolution acknowledging concerns about Peak Oil and its impact on Kaua‘i, and the need to begin emergency planning efforts to mitigate those effects?

All answered ‘yes’ except John Hoff and Mina Morita.

Mina Morita: “… (this) has already been acknowledged by state law in its energy policy. What is needed is the political will to implement specific strategic actions to reduce Hawaii’s vulnerability and over-reliance on imported fossil fuels.”

Question Two: Would you lobby for a greater portion of highway funding going toward the Kauai Bus system and other multi-modal transit on Kauai?

All answered ‘yes’ except George Anderson and Ron Kouchi.

Furfaro: “I would support any separate funding that would increase the capacity of the Kauai Bus schedule including express buses that would service the Westside and north shore of the island.”

Kouchi: “… would require federal funds or the option to raise the excise tax by ? percent with the funds dedicated for that purpose.”

K.C. Lum: “I also encourage alternative fueled buses and more frequent schedules to encourage ridership.”

John Hoff: “I would not restrict additional funding to the present highway funding …”

Question Three: Would you support strategies to promote the use of solar water heating units on new construction, as well as existing buildings?

All ‘yes.’

Representative Morita introduced a “Pay As You Save” pilot program in the last session that should help to remove financial barriers for the installation of solar water heaters in new and existing residential buildings.

Yukimura: “I am currently working on a bill to require solar water heating on all new construction.”

Furfaro: “Association of owners should not prevent the use of solar energy within their subdivisions and this can be mandated within the County’s zoning ordinance.”

Bruce Pleas: “… need to promote the use of alternate energy production units on new construction and existing buildings along with promoting “green” energy saving building methods that use less energy to obtain the same living standards.”

Question Four: Do you support incentives for county/state employees to use alternate modes of transportation for commuting to work?

All ‘yes’ except Anderson.

There were many suggestions for car pooling, park and ride programs, and discounted or free bus passes to employees.

Joanne Georgi: “Telecommuting reduces commuting energy by 100 percent; 4 day by 10 hour work week reduces commuting energy 20 percent (even unions may be willing to save their members 20 percent of their commute costs!)”

Ron Agor: “… each department must have a car for their staff to use during the work hours.”

Bryan Baptiste: “… created the Lihue lunch shuttle to provide an alternative for our employees and those who work in the Lihue area. …County vehicles are being replaced with hybrids.”

Question Five: Do you support education opportunities, and also incentives to encourage “Green Building” appropriate to Kauai?

All ‘yes’ with John Hoff abstaining. There was some reluctance on this question by those who were not certain of the meaning of the term “Green Building.”

Yukimura has brought experts in the field to Kauai to speak.

Kouchi: “As a past council member I’ve supported and funded conferences bringing groups like the Rocky Mountain Institute to help educate us about green opportunities.”

Furfaro: “… important to educate and certify some public workers in the permitting department. It would be to our benefit to have staff who could appropriately review green buildings and recommend contractors to be inclusive in expression options to promote energy efficiency and cost reductions to potential homeowners.”

Baptiste: “… working on a proposal right now to provide an informational workshop to visitor industry businesses on how to “green” their businesses.”

Morita: “I introduced legislation that was signed into law as Act 96 which establishes green building standards for state facilities. It requires the county to give priority permitting for the construction of any project utilizing green building standards.”

• Council Candidates were asked if they recycle.

All responded ‘yes.’

Ming Fang even runs his diesel vehicle on recycled cooking oil.

Furfaro: “We enjoy this activity with our young nephew who earns about $17 a month at the redemption centers.”

Monroe Richman: “Issue of solid waste disposal must also be addressed.”

•Mayoral candidates were asked if they would support a Mayor’s directive reducing AC use, where appropriate, to 75 -78 degrees in County facilities.

John Hoff gave a conditional ‘OK,’ Bryan Baptiste, Jesse Fukushima and Bruce Pleas said ‘yes.’

• State Representative candidates were asked if they support the continuation of state tax credits for energy alternatives.

All responded ‘yes.’ Bill 2957 that Rep. Morita introduced was signed into law as Act 240 removes the sunset date for the Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit, making the tax credit permanent.

• Question to all: What specific actions will you take as (an elected official) to achieve energy independence on Kaua‘i?

Yukimura began by emphasizing the importance of first taking personal responsibility for energy efficiency choices, “… strive in all my personal actions … to eliminate energy waste, to increase energy efficiency and to utilize renewable energy sources. I will drive a hybrid and ride a bicycle wherever possible, use solar water heating and energy efficient appliances in my home, turn off all lights when not needed and use air transportation judiciously.” She also included in her action plan, “Work to incorporate smart growth planning principles … continue to support the Kauai Bus and work to achieve the vision of an island public transit system that is convenient, reliable, pleasant, affordable and user-friendly…. Work for a materials and solid waste system that integrates sound energy and sustainability principles.”

Tim Bynum: “The first line is conservation. Improving public transportation, ride sharing, pedestrian friendly communities and recycle and reuse programs are needed. Conservation, hydro, wind, solar, biomass and waste to energy are all potential sources (of alternative energy) on our island. We should aggressively pursue a mix of these sources. A serious commitment to this issue needs to be made by our political leaders who should also see it as their responsibility to educate the public ….”

Fang: “The county can promote conservation through education … starting from elementary school. … Solar water heater for every household, using on demand type water heaters … Promoting energy efficient appliances … solar panels, wind generators, … and multiple small hydro-generator units can be stationed along the extensive irrigation ditch systems of this island.”

Furfaro: “Wainiha (hydro electric plant) has the capabilities and was surveyed for an additional intake and generation capacity. … Review of our future zoning codes should take into consideration bike paths, pedestrian paths and walk-friendly neighborhoods for visitor areas, fully exploring park and rides that promote trolley options for visitors from a central parking area; encourage companies to provide shuttle service to their employees.”

K.C. Lum: “… fund research into stationary fuel cell power plants which are being demonstrated in Pearl Harbor.”

George Anderson: “Education and encouragement to the citizens of Kauai to conserve energy in their homes.”

Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho: “Promote the 3RS n Recycle, Reuse and Reduce Use. Advocate for training of county workers in sustainability principles.”

Agor: “Make it mandatory to have solar water heaters installed in all new construction.”

Baptiste: “… the county is ready to offer a contract to a company that will place a photovoltaic energy system on the roof of the … Lihue Civic Center. If successful, this arrangement will be utilized at other county facilities … and serve as a demonstration project for other businesses ….”

Pleas: “… biodiesel production units at the Fire Stations and County Base yards … promoting agriculture for food and energy production so we do not rely on oil for Kaua‘i to eat …”

Linda Estes: “We need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels … whether they are cheap or expensive or foreign or domestic is really immaterial. We are still damaging the environment at a pace we can ill afford.”

Mina Morita, who is running unopposed for the office of State Representative for the 14th District, is chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. She states, “Over the past eight years I have passed laws dealing with net metering, renewable portfolio standards, renewable energy income tax credit, incentives to establish sugar to ethanol production on Kauai and the renewable hydrogen public-private partnership to name just a few. …In the next legislative session my primary focus regarding energy issues is to ensure that regulation is not a barrier to the implementation of renewables and energy efficiency by focusing attention to the restructuring of the Public Utilities Commission.”

K.C. Lum writes in his final comments, “This grand goal of energy independence requires out-of-the-box imagination and courageous proposals.”

Tim Bynum closes his statement, “Increasingly it is not a question of can we afford an investment in renewable energy, but an awareness that we can not afford not to.”