The Riches of the Environment – Energy and Sustainability
Given the long sail from the South Pacific to Hawai‘i, and the uncertainty of the weather and ocean currents, the first Hawaiians learned to rely on what was available to them, whether indigenous to the islands or imported for cultivation. What they had before them was more than valuable; it was all but irreplaceable. They learned to preserve as they consumed, to prevent over-fishing or depleting the land. They so respected the value of clean water that the Hawaiian word for wealth, waiwai, is simply a duplication of the word for water, wai.
The availability of easy transportation has made our natural environment no less valuable today. In addition to serving as a vital aspect of our largest economic engine—visitors cherish Hawai‘i’s beauty—it stands at the core of our own quality of life. And as important as water has been to Hawai‘i, energy is similarly vital today.
We import more energy than any other state in our nation, relying on fossil fuels for almost all electrical production, as well as the transportation of goods into and within our state. Still, the potential for Hawai‘i to develop its own energy production capability through new technologies raises unavoidable questions of how to balance food and fuel. As it has been for centuries, the question facing us today is how we will sustain our Hawai‘i.
Senate Majority Initiative: No New Fossil Fuel Power Plants
SB 1671
Hawaii is the most fossil fuel dependent state in the nation. At present we largely rely on oil and coal for our electrical needs, and a large portion of our consumer goods come in via petroleum-burning ships and planes. Our largest industry—tourism—is also fueled by oil, depending on jet aircraft to deliver visitors.
The burning of fossil fuel degrades both our air quality and our image as a "Health State" and clean destination. Fossil fuels produce large amounts of greenhouse gases and are implicated in global climate change, the effects of which may have profound consequences on Hawaii's environment and quality of life. Additionally, Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuel results in the outflow of billions of dollars from the state economy each year.
The Senate will take an important first step in 2009 by introducing legislation that will prohibit new or expanded fossil fuel power plants, aligning state energy policy with Hawaii's preferred clean energy and sustainable future.
Senate Majority Initiative: Expanded Net Energy Program
SB 1675
It is our goal to improve and expand renewable energy in Hawaii and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The Legislature enacted the net energy metering law as an effective incentive for the rapid development of renewable electricity self-generation at low cost to the public. “Net metering” allows a consumer with power-generation capability—usually through small renewable-energy sources such as wind generators or photo-voltaic cells—to receive a credit for excess energy produced.
When the net energy metering law was enacted, limits were established to ensure the safety and reliability of our electrical grid. However, these limits are no longer necessary because the Public Utilities Commission has established other procedures to protect grid integrity.
The Senate will introduce legislation in 2009 to eliminate the total capacity limit on net metering and increase the consumer capacity limit. The legislation will permit existing net metered customers to remain with the program once a feed-in tariff or other tariff structures are implemented.
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