Hirono, Lingle agree on state's energy goals

While self-sufficiency is a common focus, the candidates split on how to attain it

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 27, 2012

~~<p>Hawaii has committed to weaning itself off fossil fuel by mandating 70 percent clean energy by 2030 — 40 percent from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal and 30 percent from energy efficiency. Thirty states have adopted renewable portfolio standards, but the struggle is how to turn those goals into action.</p>
<p>U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican, have embraced renewable energy to help break Hawaii's $4.5 billion-a-year dependence on imported oil. But they disagree on the route.</p>
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Hawaii has committed to weaning itself off fossil fuel by mandating 70 percent clean energy by 2030 — 40 percent from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal and 30 percent from energy efficiency. Thirty states have adopted renewable portfolio standards, but the struggle is how to turn those goals into action.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican, have embraced renewable energy to help break Hawaii's $4.5 billion-a-year dependence on imported oil. But they disagree on the route. Login for more...