honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

COMMENTARY
Hawaii needs energy independence now

By Sen. Fred Hemmings

CAST YOUR VOTE

Make your opinion count in our daily online poll and see the results. Today, we ask readers:

Should a special session be called to address Hawai'i's energy crisis?

Vote today at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion

spacer spacer

Hawai'i is in dire need of an energy revolution, not the ongoing creeping evolution. Merely suggesting that 20 percent of our electricity be generated from renewable resources by 2020 is apocalyptic.

Hawai'i must move quickly to provide the infrastructure to create alternative energy for generating electricity. Coal and oil must be made obsolete. The Industrial Revolution was energized by fossil fuel. The technological revolution of the 21st century must be energized by the limitless supplies of renewable energies.

David Murdock, a nationally prominent businessman, recently hosted a meeting with legislative and executive branch leaders to announce that he is willing to invest a billion or more dollars to bring alternative energy production to Hawai'i. He acknowledged that our current energy problems are a crisis of epic proportions. Hawai'i is especially vulnerable. The rising price of oil seriously affects every person and industry — especially our one major enterprise, tourism. Former Gov. Ben Cayetano called a special session of the Legislature to address the 9/11 crisis. The same kind of leadership is needed to address our current crisis.

Now is the time to take action. A few legislators made excuses as to why David Murdock's ideas cannot be expedited. This mentality has led Hawai'i backwards in energy independence and many opportunities have been squandered. In the last several decades, despite Gov. Linda Lingle's recent attempts to change things, Hawai'i has become more dependent on coal and oil. The challenges of the energy crisis are an opportunity for competent leaders to institute timely and dramatic changes.

Here are some things that could be accomplished in a special session of the state Legislature:

  • Reduce gas costs. Immediately reduce gas prices by eliminating the state and county taxes on fuel, which would save consumers approximately 34 cents a gallon. Lost revenues for the state highway fund could be replaced with a surcharge tax on new gas-guzzling vehicles. Commercial vehicles would be exempted.

  • Create energy opportunity zones. Declare an energy emergency and immediately legislate pre-permitted energy opportunity zones. Wind, solar, ocean and geothermal production and other renewable sources could be online within months rather than years. Innovative legislation for energy opportunity zones was introduced several years ago and is languishing. Pass it now.

  • Produce energy for electric and hydrogen cars. Promote a cost-effective and competitive energy marketplace to energize electric vehicles and produce cost-effective hydrogen. Tax credits and other enticements could be legislated to expedite the availability and utilization of our island's existing resources.

    Hawaiian Electric has a near monopoly on production and distribution of electricity in our state. Hawai'i's electricity costs are approximately 125 percent above the national average. Our state is more than 90 percent dependent on fossil fuel for energy production. We must immediately allow more visionary producers into the marketplace. All fossil-fuel-burning energy facilities in Hawai'i should be obsolete by 2020.

    The conclave of political leaders that met with David Murdock heard the billion-dollar offer to invest in renewable energy production. What will become of this offer is up to the Legislature. Environmentalists should rally for a special session to liberate Hawai'i from our excessive dependency on fossil fuels. If we are genuine in our calls to reduce our fossil fuel dependence, we must legislate regulatory streamlining, tax credits and other incentives to have offers like David Murdock's expedited, not ignored.

    The governor and legislative leadership could call for a special session within the next two months to pass innovative legislation. Hawai'i has the means to be the leader in energy independence. This can be achieved only through a revolution fueled by the people of Hawai'i, utilizing the genius of free enterprise and the wisdom of political cooperation.

    John F. Kennedy challenged America to go to the moon in 10 years. The entrepreneurs, visionaries and leaders of our great nation did just that. With the same determination, ingenuity and freedom of the market place, Hawai'i can reach for the stars and become energy independent.

    Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai) is the state Senate minority leader. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.