Editor’s note: Candidates for the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors were asked the same three questions about the position. Their responses will appear this week in The Garden Island. KIUC members will start receiving their ballots in the
Editor’s note: Candidates for the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors were asked the same three questions about the position. Their responses will appear this week in The Garden Island. KIUC members will start receiving their ballots in the mail Saturday. They are due by noon, March 28.
The questions
1.) Why are you running for the KIUC board and what experience/expertise will you bring to the board in the way of fiscal management, community service and advocacy?
2.) What is your opinion of the KIUC strategic plan and KIUC’s 2008 Integrated Resource Planning, as they relate to the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative?
3.) What role do you think KIUC should play in advocating for conservation and energy efficient incentives; how should they be funded?
Responses from candidate Milton Chung
1.) My goal is to bring a cheaper and less polluting way to generate Kaua‘i’s electricity. As a retired fire department captain I have managed budgets and personnel effectively. As a member of the Koloa Community Council I have been active in community affairs, seeking answers to our issues and giving back to my community.
2.) As far as the 50 percent by 2023 reduction of dependence on polluting energy sources, I feel we can increase that goal to 100 percent if we begin now. We must begin to acquire property on which to build several dams, bring them online as soon as completed and have the final one completed by 2023.
3.) KIUC should be the leader in spearheading energy efficiency and incentives to lower the cost per kilowatt-hour. We should have a designated liaison to work with government for grants, low-cost loans and federal assistance to find ways to fund new dams and encourage individual and commercial solar energy for hot water and direct electrical generation and storage.
Responses from candidate JoAnne Georgi
1.) It is time KIUC makes financial decisions that best serve our members. We need to look at every expense and decide whether it is a need or a want, and weigh the wants in a prudent manner.
Education/Experience: I have a degree in business (BBA from WMU). I have owned my own business. I currently own (affordable housing) rental properties with my husband, supplying housing for 10 households in addition to our own. My husband and I are foster parents.
Current community service: I am a member of the county Committee on the Status of Women and head the finance committee of King’s Chapel, ‘Ele‘ele.
2.) It is time to stop talking and start making decisions as to where, what, when and how we are going to implement the plan. We need to bring the politicians and the county Planning Department on board and fast-track the implementation.
3.) We need to conserve resources as much as we can. Tax incentives (federal, state and local) can encourage people to install solar water heating and even photovoltaic systems. We can fund them by implementing tighter controls on our expenditures.
