COMMENTARY
Reliance on fossil fuel unjustified on O'ahu

By Rep. Cynthia Thielen

It is overwhelmingly clear that a petroleum-based economy leaves us tremendously vulnerable to a number of crises both at home and on foreign soil.

Smoke and flames erupted from a smokestack at Campbell Industrial Park after an emergency shutdown at the plant in 2001. Rep. Cynthia Thielen is arguing for decreased reliance on fossil fuels. Advertiser library photo

In fact, according to the Center for a Sustainable Future's newly released report, Preliminary Assessment of Energy Sustainability in Hawai'i, "Hawai'i's residents pay the highest rates in the nation for electricity, about double the national average cost," attributable to the high, and consistently rising, costs to import oil.

The Center for a Sustainable Future further argues for renewed research into energy alternatives, asserting that "unless Hawai'i's legislative and executive branches, along with the private sector and the utilities, make a firm commitment and investment in the development of a renewable energy sector in Hawai'i, the islands will remain overly dependent upon fossil fuels for energy into the foreseeable future."

This "dependence" marks an extremely risky position, where Hawai'i's economy could be easily impacted by the international battle for the earth's finite supply of fossil fuels. In addition, some residents will remember the long gas lines in the mid-1970s, a historic warning against continuing our overdependence on an imported fuel source.

The island of O'ahu generates and consumes 72 percent of the state's energy, 96 percent of which is derived from fossil fuels (coal and oil). Interestingly, "30 percent of our oil and 80 percent of our coal comes from Indonesia," a nation in which several terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, reside.

With the benefit of solar, wind, ocean, geothermal and biomass energy at our fingertips, there is no justification for our reliance on power that is primarily generated by fossil fuels.

First, consumers must be informed about the source of their electricity, as they possess the very powerful capacity to place significant pressure on their energy providers to change the status quo. I believe Hawaiian Electric, holding the major monopoly in Ha-

wai'i's power industry, must be held accountable for its hand in our transition, or lack thereof, toward cleaner, and more efficient energy resources.

This includes providing a breakdown of the percentage of oil versus renewable sources on utility bills, as well as a solid commitment to change their mix of fuel resources. An informed public can then act as the necessary watchdog to ensure that this commitment is carried through.

In the 2003 legislative session, I am introducing a number of bills designed to guide Hawai'i into the new year as a national leader in energy efficiency, decreasing our dependency on fossil fuels, and increasing the use of alternative energy resources. If properly developed, solar, wind, wave, geothermal, biomass, and hydrogen fuel industries will boost our economy, provide new jobs, reduce the amount of air and water pollution, and decrease our monthly power bills considerably.

To encourage these developments, my bill, Relating to Renewable Energy, authorizes an income tax credit for renewable energy technology systems installed and placed in service after June 30, 2004. Where the status quo is concerned, my bill, Relating to Renewable Portfolio Standards, proposes that we increase the net electricity sales that are procured from eligible renewable resources to at least 20 percent by Dec. 31, 2016, spurring along the transition for our major energy suppliers.

To include the consumer in the equation, I would like to see retail suppliers of electricity to annually disclose information on their use of renewable (solar, wind, wave, etc.) versus nonrenewable (oil, coal) sources in generating the electricity services they sell to customers.

In addition, I propose that we allow the Public Utilities Commission to consider factors that encourage energy conservation, or encourage renewable energy development when determining the cost of our electricity, taking into account long-term benefits of power generated by sustainable, renewable sources.

In hopes of getting the state on board in our effort, not to mention saving taxpayer dollars, I have also introduced a bill that recommends an improvement in energy management in state facilities.

As our ozone diminishes each year, as billions of dollars are poured into the cleanup of nasty oil spills in our oceans, as our wallets are emptied by electric and gas bills, as habitat and species diversity is depleted to make room for pipelines and drilling equipment, as our atmosphere fills with greenhouse gases and water levels and temperatures rise, as the number of children suffering from asthma increases, and as our young men and women are being shipped to the Middle East, it is time for Hawai'i to take a stand.

Generations to come may very well measure our success on our willingness and determination where this critical issue is concerned.

I am certain that the best approach is an informed one, which ensures consumer choice, provides positive economic incentive to businesses, encourages participation from all sectors, and always maintains a clear, established goal for the development of renewable energy industries and decreased reliance on fossil fuels.

Cynthia Thielen is assistant Republican floor leader in the Hawai'i House of Representatives.