Tag Archives: HB 1257

Geothermal, Government, Peak Oil

Support HB 1257 By Sending Testimony

We could use your support.

HB 1257 is going to be heard by Rep. Herkes’ Consumer Protection Committee.

Read the bill here. Here is where I discussed the bill.

Send testimony in support of HB 1257 to CPCtestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov. It should be less than five pages in length; couple sentences plenty.

This bill’s essential elements are simple. It requires the PUC to consider the following three factors when it issues approvals for electricity generation:

  1. Consider the technology as to its effectiveness
  2. Consider the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted
  3. Consider the costs to the rate payers compared to alternatives.

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the February 2nd hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

  • Testifier’s name, with position/title and organization
  • The committee the comments are directed to (the Consumer Protection Committee)
  • The date and time of the hearing (Feb 2, 2011 at 2:05 p.m.)
  • Measure number: HB 1257

Please send this to your friends, too. Mahalo.

Geothermal, Government

HB 1257: ‘A Bill For An Act Relating to Public Utilities’

2 Comments

I introduced legislation relating to energy to the legislature, HB 1257, and I did it as an individual. Although I polled the Geothermal Working Group members for their thoughts, this legislation was not endorsed or submitted by the group. The Geothermal Working Group was not formed to do legislation.

It is true that I am involved in Ku‘oko‘a, the group that is buying HEI. But they do not even know of this legislation. This idea is something that I have been working on for years.

We all know that for the past 20 to 30 years, the world has been using twice as much oil as it has been finding. Reputable agencies such as Lloyds of London, the International Energy Association, the German military and our own Department of Defense are warning that the oil supply is not endless and the era of cheap oil is over. It will have serious economic consequences to us living on islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We do not have time to waste.

We must transition our electrical base power in a smart way. On the Big Island, we do have proven technology that is friendly to the climate as well as inexpensive.

The essential elements of the legislation are very simple and straightforward. HB 1257 directs the PUC to consider the following criteria when considering an application to supply the utility with electricity:

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