KIUC needs to wake up by Paul Lucas Derek Kawakami’s article on Monday praising the efforts and dreams of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative board of directors was quite verbose and a bit over the top (“Let’s re-elect KIUC incumbents,”
KIUC needs to wake up
by Paul Lucas
Derek Kawakami’s article on Monday praising the efforts and dreams of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative board of directors was quite verbose and a bit over the top (“Let’s re-elect KIUC incumbents,” Guest Viewpoint, Feb. 25).
Kaua‘i’s electric rates are the highest in the nation and 20 percent to 40 percent higher than the other islands even though KIUC is the only cooperative in the state.
KIUC also has minimal renewable energy in place and praises themselves on having 7 percent of their energy come from renewables. This 7 percent that they boast about comes from a hydroelectric plant that was built in 1921. Since then, our electric company has done little in the way of renewable energy. Most of Kaua‘i’s generated power now comes from oil and that’s why our rates are so high and will go higher as oil prices continue to rise.
Dennis Esaki’s article (“We are in this with you,” Guest Viewpoint, Feb. 24) applauds KIUC’s great plan to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon emissions but doesn’t tell us how they will accomplish that feat and still keep your lights on and the oil burning.
KIUC’s solar program is also not all that stellar. All of the other islands are racking up some very impressive numbers in their Solar Water Heater programs. KIUC, however, does not make their numbers public. Kauai Electric and KIUC have spent over $520,000 in attorneys fees to ensure that my company, Solar Engineering & Contracting, does not participate in their program. SEC, one of the largest solar companies in Hawai‘i was banned from the Energy Wise Solar program for violating Kauai Electric’s solar price-fixing controls. KIUC abandoned the illegal practice but would not allow SEC back in the program. KIUC presently offers an $800 rebate while all the other islands offer a $1,000 rebate on solar water systems for homes.
It’s my opinion that this island can never be energy self-sustainable unless we install a proper hydroelectric plant. We’re the wettest place on Earth and we’ve had no plans or even any discussions about this incredible source of power.
Gov. Linda Lingle met with the federal energy commissioner last month and signed an agreement that Hawai‘i would be a beacon of renewable energy for the rest of the country, but they never mentioned how they would accomplish such an incredible feat. Henry Curtis from “Life of the Land” remarked that “this forum was nothing new, we all know that this energy engine has started but someone needs to put the engine in gear.” The same scenario exists with KIUC. It seems they’ve been asleep at the wheel so long that they believe their dreams will somehow become reality without any action.
Dream on.
KIUC’s current team needs to get busy or get out before our rates become so high that their rates are unaffordable. KIUC’s free balloons, pencils and pats on each other’s backs won’t help with the homeowners’ shock when they open their ever-increasing electric bill.
Kaua‘i is unique in the world for having so much potential for achieving the lofty goals of using the sun, the water flow and the wind to become self-sustainable. But it will take years to implement and in the meantime the oil burns and the ice cap melts and all the while we’re told of what a wonderful job our directors are doing. Sure, I’ll believe that, as much as I believe President Bush is good for the environment.
Our federal government is continuing its course of destroying the planet by talking a good story about renewable energy, but they don’t even have the foresight to extend the Solar Tax Credit that will expire at the end of this year. For solar to continue its growth, this tax credit must continue. How short-sighted of them.
Also, if the administration of our electric company is also asleep at the wheel, it’s time to change drivers. Oil prices will continue to rise and we’re running out of time.
• Paul Lucas is a Lawa‘i resident, aerospace engineer and owner of Solar Engineering and Contracting. His company installed over 8,000 solar water and solar power systems throughout the Hawaiian islands including Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Niihau. He is not a member of KIUC.
