HECO energy plan will kill PV industry

Shibai! Hawaiian Electric Co.’s so-called energy plan is anti-green and anti-renewable energy.

First, it will penalize photovoltaic (PV) customers who invested tens of thousands of dollars to become energy efficient.That will also destroy the PV industry in Hawaii.

Second, while HECO claims it wants to reduce charges to non-PV customers, the plan actually provides their rates will increase, too — all in the mere hope that after 2030 HECO "might" reduce energy costs for everyone.

If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

Michael A. Lilly
Pacific Heights

Changing rules now unfair to PV owners

My electric bill last month was $17.

We delivered to Hawaiian Electric Co. 280 kilowatt hours (kWh) and received 220 kWh for a credit of 60 kWh. But with the proposed rate increase we would have to pay $99.57 — a dramatic increase.

Here’s the calculation: To HECO, we would have to pay 220 kWh times 34.62 cents, totaling $76.17 for the electricity we received, and simultaneously, receive a credit of 280 kWh times 17 cents for $47.60 total for the power we feed into their system(instead of our present 280 kWh times 34.62 cents for $96.93 total).

So although this wasa good summer month and we made more electricity than we used, we still would have a negative balance of $28.57 ($76.17 – $47.60 = $28.57).

Add to that the proposed new fixed monthly charge of $71 and our bill would then be $28.57 + $7 = $99.57. This would make solar a poor investment for us and probably many other solar customers.

HECO should not be allowed to change the present rules for existing solar owners, because the present rules were the main reason people bought solar.

Volker Hildebrandt
Kaneohe

Taxi companies must adapt to competition

Innovate or die.

That has been the business creed for more than 100 years.

These cab companies on Oahu want to keep the market all to themselves and not let any new player(s) in. They are probably very well connected politically in this town, and we all know how that goes in the way of making deals and laws.

Take a look at Amazon and see how it brought to the consuming world how to buy and read books and see what has happened in this arena of business.

In the real world of consumerism, not government intervention, the pocketbook talks and makes decisions that will forever change the face of business. If Honolulu residents do not like these new ride-sharing companies, they will fold — but I seriously doubt that will happen.

Saving your hard-earned dollars is what it is all about.

Mike Eberle
Waikiki

University has its priorities mixed up

I quote part of a headline from Aug. 24 in the Star-Advertiser: "Chow upbeat … "

Two days later, another headline read, "Students stumble … "

That’s quite a pair of headlines. It would be much better if we could reverse those words: "Chow stumbles" (wins 4, losses 20) and "Students upbeat." But the reason we can’t reverse those words is because our priorities are misplaced.

There’s way too much emphasis on big-money sports and way too little on education.

Frankly, more than a half-million dollars a year for football coach Norm Chow or anyone else in that position — regardless of the record — is money that could help educate our university students. It’s time to re-examine such misguided programs.

Don’t get me wrong: Collegiate sports are very beneficial for good health and personal growth, but keep them within the university intramural. Then our focus would be on education, where it should be. Imagine it.

Geoffrey Hill
Waikiki

Justice in Palestine must involve all sides

"Justice in Palestine?" I could not agree more with that goal.

What does "justice" mean? Is justice the same as peace? Then let’s get Israel to withdraw its troops and tanks, and have Hamas withdraw its tunnels and rockets.

Is justice the same as respect? Then let’s get Israel to recognize a duly elected government and political party that does not include in its charter the elimination of Israel and, apparently, Jews.

Does justice mean equality? Then let’s ask Hamas to treat non-Hamas women, men and children living in Gaza at least as well as Arabs are treated within Israel?

Does justice mean food and jobs? Yes and yes, for all sides.

Israel withdraws. Hamas demolishes its tunnels. The international community guarantees funds for food, jobs and schools. That is justice. As would be the salvation of the Palestinian people from their occupation by Hamas.

Peter H. Hoffenberg
Hawaii Kai

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed..

“Complaints flare over city’s use of fund for park upkeep,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 25:

>> Wow. It’s not like they’re even hiding the corruption. The Hanauma Bay revenue “pays into” other, unrestricted funds. That’s completely against the judicial decision.

>> Welcome to the wonderful world of the general fund where accounting entries are meaningless. The money is there on paper — that is, until you try to spend it and all of a sudden there isn’t any money and never was any money.
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“PACs aim to build congressional rivals’ name recognition,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 25:

>> Well, we have certainly seen that money doesn’t mean you’re going to win in Hawaii (see: Abercrombie versus Ige). But whether a candidate has name recognition or not doesn’t mean much if the person he or she is running against has worn out his or her political welcome in Hawaii. (see: Ige versus Abercrombie)

>> The real problem is with these PACs being able to influence local elections. This is unacceptable. Our politicians should create a law preventing any form of PAC monetary influence, simple as that.

>> Let’s go PACs! Start your engines!
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“Counties consider effects of ruling on GMOs,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 26:

>> There have been some dangerous pesticides that were used for many years that were also considered safe. Sometimes we find out when it’s too late. I am not against GMOs as much as the pesticides used. And what is the harm with labeling our foods, saying how they are grown? We label all most all foods with information now.

>> What did we learn here? That the County Council on Kauai is more interested in pandering to the extremists than serving the community with thoughtful legislation. It has a love affair with throwing money away on lawyers. What’s up with that?

>>  Kauai spent $175,000 and is considering spending more? If they had consulted with (attorney) Margery Bronster first, Kauai could have saved its money.

>> Great decision, and I hope it carries over to the Maui County voters.
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“Stricter abuse law criticized as excessive,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 26:

>> It’s about time that an offense in the home is treated with the same severity as if a stranger had perpetrated the crime.

>> If you don’t want a felony on your record, don’t abuse your partner.

>> Oh, if only life could be so simple.
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“Isles warned of grim future for tourism,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27:

>> This article is a Hawaii Tourism Authority plant, to soften the community to greater intrusion into our forests, wetlands and small towns, making the entirety of our islands one big theme park.

>> The first thing HTA will do is ask for more money.

>> Thanks HTA. Let’s just get this report, ask the lead scientist to … scare everybody away before it happens 20 to 50 years from now. Good strategic planning.

>>  This problem certainly deserves attention and investigation, not just in our community, but in every community.

>> It is prudent to prepare, but it is dishonest to make statements about climate change that assume these predictions approach certainty.
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“Council panel advances bill to raise smoking age to 21,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27:

>>  City Council member Stanley Chang should represent his constituents instead of telling them what they can and cannot do.

>> Wait, so an 18-year-old can join the military and go into combat but cannot use an e-cig? Really?

>> I’m surprised they didn’t do this years ago. Smoking kills way more people than alcohol, and also is the leading cause of our skyrocketing costs for our health system.

>> And raising the age to 21 will stop all of that. Helloooooo.
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“City might owe HPOWER $2M,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 28:

>> The city opted to build an additional boiler. Then pushed recycling. All this to decrease the amount of garbage produced for landfills. Then, as it turns out, it set the bar so high that we are having to pay the operator of the plant a “penalty” because we are not producing enough garbage?!? Only in Honolulu.

>>  If they need more trash, maybe they can check on the city street in the area of my house. There’s tons of bulk garbage people just dump there anytime of the month.

>> Probably was a good idea at the time.