Action manager will help isles achieve energy goals

By Jay Fidell

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 10, 2012

~~<p>Our energy goals are commendable (the state hopes to get 4<t-7>0 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2030), but the real deadline will be determined by the cost of imported oil, now at $103 per barrel. Given world oil trajectories against the strength of the dollar, we need to get real serious about this.</p>
<p>We've had some big dedications and groundbreakings this year, including Sempra's Wind Farm at Ulupalakua on Maui next week, but our renewables, now 12 percent of our needs, can't keep up with our oil costs. Imagine two lines on a graph, one going up for oil and the other going down for our disposable income.</p>
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Our energy goals are commendable (the state hopes to get 4<t-7>0 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2030), but the real deadline will be determined by the cost of imported oil, now at $103 per barrel. Given world oil trajectories against the strength of the dollar, we need to get real serious about this.

We've had some big dedications and groundbreakings this year, including Sempra's Wind Farm at Ulupalakua on Maui next week, but our renewables, now 12 percent of our needs, can't keep up with our oil costs. Imagine two lines on a graph, one going up for oil and the other going down for our disposable income. Login for more...