High oil prices proves the
need for energy self-reliance
91直播an Electric’s recent announcement that our electric bills will increase 20-30% due to oil price spikes caused by the Iran war is concerning. When global oil markets turn volatile, those price hikes make it harder for our families and businesses to make ends meet.
Sadly, this is nothing new. We’ve seen oil prices surge from global conflicts repeatedly. Each time, energy costs climb, and they seem to never fully come back down.
We, on 91直播 Island, are always hit the hardest, where our energy costs are already the highest in the entire country.
91直播’s continued dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves us exposed to global forces far beyond our control. Which is why the situation with Honua Ola Bioenergy needs to be resolved.
This state‑of‑the‑art, renewable energy facility in Pepe‘ekeo can supply up to 20% of 91直播 Island’s power with 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week firm energy, sourced from locally grown eucalyptus crops and cleared invasive species like albizia — instead of relying on foreign oil.
Yet, instead of generating power, the plant sits idle, caught in delays, even while there is an agreement in principle with 91直播an Electric. At a time when oil volatility is threatening our economic stability, we have a 99% completed, fully permitted, renewable energy facility that would be a part of 91直播 Island’s energy solution.
Experts estimate that Honua Ola could replace one-third to one-half of the island’s fossil fuel dependence, and at set prices for the next 30 years that won’t be subjected to sharp increases in world oil prices.
Every delay in renewable energy projects like Honua Ola, or new technologies like green hydrogen, keeps our island vulnerable. And every electric bill is a reminder that our dependence on fossil fuels is not sustainable – economically or environmentally.
If we want to break this cycle once and for all, we must make energy self‑reliance a real priority and take action.
Jerry Chang
State representative, 1989-2012
Hilo
Trump’s opposition to
wind farms makes no sense
After reading up on wind farms, I cannot understand why President Trump wants to cancel the building of them on our coasts. It seem that having natural energy can only benefit the people.
Why would he pay to have them not build these wind farms when it can only help the people and lessen the need for fossil fuels?
What am I missing here?
Colleen Wallis
Kailua-Kona
