County Resolution Must Include Effects Upon People

Richard Ha writes:

The Hawai‘i County Council Comittee on Agriculture Water and Energy Sustainability will meet on Tuesday at 11 a.m. to discuss a resolution put forward by the committee.

Comm. 25: A RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THE ADVANCEMENT OF PRINCIPLES OF  (Res. 19-13) SUSTAINABILITY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT DECISIONS AFFECTING  NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 

From Council Member Margaret Wille, dated December 4, 2012, transmitting the  above resolution, which resolves that all County-level government decisions be  consistent with specific sustainability principles and policies, as listed.

This resolution does not include effects on people, and it would be stronger if it included that component.

Rising electricity rates such as we’re seeing act like a giant regressive tax on folks who are on the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. Actually, it’s worse than that, because people who can leave the grid will do so, leaving behind the folks unable to leave who will then have to pay an increasing share of the cost to maintain the grid.

Somehow, we need to incorporate people into this resolution.