Hawai‘i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi addressed the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce the other day. He asked, “If we have the most productive geothermal in the world, how come we are not using it?”
The Mayor is serious! He is organizing a trip to Ormoc City, Philippines, which has an economy similar to the Big Island’s. Its populationis close to the population of the Big Island. They produce 700MW of geothermal, which they share by cable with other islands. We only produce 30MW.
The mayor wants to see how they do it. Since “if they can do it, we can do it.” Mayor Kenoi understands energy issues very well.
People do not say that 100 percent renewable is a dumb idea, but some say it can’t be done. I agree with the Mayor – it can be done, and it will be done. Not no can. CAN!
And the beneficiary of cheap, proven-technology, environmentally benign geothermal electricity will be all the folks and businesses here who are struggling to make ends meet. Perhaps we will see jobs develop that keep our children from leaving Hawai‘i.
Right now, there are more Hawaiians living outside of the state than in the state. What’s wrong with that picture?
From a West Hawaii Today article:
How, Kenoi then asked the crowd, can the island have the most productive geothermal hotspot in the world and not use it?
“It’s not intermittent,” he said. “It’s cheap, renewable, clean power. How can we not have this opportunity to encourage investment and fully develop the island of Hawaii as a 100 percent renewable energy island?”
He said with excess geothermal electricity, “we can have hydrogen to power buses.”
On both the renewable energy issue and keeping Kona’s international airport designation, Kenoi said he is also working with Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office, seeking federal assistance….