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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:00 p.m., Monday, April 27, 2009

Hawaii rally seeks power plant ban

By MARK NIESSE
Associated Press

Environmentalists rallying at the Capitol are pleading with Hawaii lawmakers to ban any new oil or coal power plants.

Joined by Gov. Linda Lingle, more than 100 demonstrators waved signs and chanted, "No oil, no coal, clean energy is our goal" in the Capitol rotunda.

The measure to ban new fossil fuel-based power production has been faltering among legislators who fear that solar, wind and wave energy won't do enough to quench the state's future power needs.

Advocates of the ban argue that by shutting off the option of using more fossil fuel, Hawaii's electricity utilities and decision makers will have no choice but to emphasize renewable energy.