• What is the cost of A&B’s solar energy? • Social spending is destoying the nation • Missing bus shelters What is the cost of A&B’s solar energy? I recently read that KIUC has been purchasing electricity from the newly
• What is the cost of A&B’s solar energy? • Social spending is destoying the nation • Missing bus shelters
What is the cost of A&B’s solar energy?
I recently read that KIUC has been purchasing electricity from the newly built A&B solar facility, located directly adjacent to KIUC generating plant in Port Allen.
As a member of the KIUC co-op, I feel I am writing this letter of request for the benefit of the majority of remaining co-op members. Please consider this an “open letter” on the behalf of all members.
As a member, I feel that every member has the right to have a full accounting of how “our” — the member owned co-op’s — money is being spent and managed.
Therefore I, “we” wish to be informed as to how much “we” are paying A&B per kwh, or MWh, for that very electricity that is being generated at A&B’s new solar facility site.
Since the price is a fixed price for 20 to 25 years and it is so stated within the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), it should not be difficult or time-consuming to deliver the actual cost “we the co-op owners” are being charged for this electricity.
I, “we” look forward to your response and please respond to “our” question via The Garden Island newspaper in their “Letters to the Editor” section; it will be highly appreciated. Looking forward to your prompt response and until then mahalo and aloha.
John Hoff
Lawa‘i
Social spending is destoying the nation
Yanos Samu (”Denying reality,” Feb. 13) cites Bob Bartolo’s excellent anti-marxist letter but damns it with faint praise.
He then implies the monster debt we owe to marxist China and Russia is a failure of capitalism, blaming it on “military adventures.”
If he means Bush’s nation-building and absurdly defending western democracies and treacherous Muslims on our dime, he’s right.
But defense spending is less than 19 percent of federal outlays. It is social spending (with the Orwellian label of “entitlements”) which amounts to 62 percent of the budget. That is destroying our fiscal health, and our nation.
Capitalism didn’t get us there, socialism did. Neither did communism put Russia and China in the position of being creditors. It was the decisions by both dictatorships to get out of the way and let the doers to get rich. When that happens, entrepreneurs put capital at risk and create jobs. If they succeed, they create wealth and everyone gains, including government treasuries.
Government has never created a nickel of wealth. Unfortunately, U.S. new-business starts are the lowest in decades.
The writer also claims that communist countries are less likely to start wars, while at the same time expanding the middle class.
In reality, wars between democracies are rare. How do we account for 90 million murdered by the “Great Helmsman,” Chairman Mao, 60 million in Soviet Russia, and the 6 million middle-class Kulaks starved in Ukraine by the Kremlin central planners?
Ukraine was a net exporter of grain, with land as rich as our Midwest, until it was ruined by the Reds. Don’t forget, Hitler was granted absolute power after he was elected.
Centralizing power is dangerous. And as Margaret Thatcher said, “Socialism is great until you run out of other peoples’ money.”
John Burns
Princeville
Missing bus shelters
Jerry Kalaloa, thank you for your letter (“So called leaders,” Feb. 17). I appreciate your frustration.
It seems the administration is not interested, doesn’t know how or does not think it’s important since these aren’t the rich guys.
Campaigning politicians Yukimura and Carvalho fought over who gets credit for the bus. They pushed bus ridership but failed to empathize with the riders. They rode the bus one day as an example to “us,” then they got into their air-conditioned, tax-financed electric vehicles/SUVs with free gas. Did they start from the Hanama‘ulu bus stop?
I have been requesting/complaining in Letters to the Editor, Mayor Carvalho and Janine Rapozo, starting in 2009.
In 2011, Janine Rapozo’s reasons were, “space is an issue… all bus stops/shelters must meet ADA requirements… need design consultants… funding is always an issue.”
OK. It’s dead in the water. Truth is: they missed a funding deadline.
Remember the Polihale bridge: repaired by a few residents for a few thousand in a few days. Lingle said it would cost several million and several years to accomplish.
I agree with you. It’s a despicable lack of compassion for people. They are taxpayers trying to get to two, three jobs a day, take care of family, push baby strollers, wheelchairs in pouring rain or scorching sun to wait for the bus.
My question is about the ADA requirements: if this is so important, what about existing, unacceptable, dangerous conditions for Americans with disabilities at the bus stops?
Elaine Dunbar
Lihu‘e
