Posted on: Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Editorial
Wave energy program could benefit Hawai'i

It tends to be forgotten today, but that phenomenon we call the Internet began — essentially — as a government project aimed at creating a secure emergency communications system. In short, it was a defense project that soon blossomed into something almost unimagined at the beginning.

It's useful to keep that history in mind today as we hear of a Navy experiment at the Marine Corps Base in Kane'ohe involving the production of energy from ocean waves.

At this point, it is purely an experimental exercise, designed to see whether the production of electricity from wave energy is a feasible alternative for the military. The idea would be to have a standby that would reduce military dependence on oil.

The Kane'ohe site was chosen because it is controlled by the military and provides ready access to an active and reliable wave system.

This kind of science often appears more attractive to the military than it does to the civilian world. It might not be possible to convincingly "pencil out" a civilian wave energy program today, given the price of oil and the difficulties such a program might present.

But the equation is different when it is presented as a matter of national defense and security. The military has a rational need for alternatives to oil energy that has nothing to do with costs.

Thus a promising alternative to oil energy is being explored right on our shores. Clearly there are many environmental and scientific issues to be dealt with. Wave energy may prove to be no panacea.

But if it does prove out, if the technical questions can be answered satisfactorily, then Hawai'i may one day have yet another alternative to oil as a source of electrical energy.

It is inevitable that the day will come when that alternative will be essential.