Young people courteous on bus

Kedric Dean complained that there will be no one available to help the elderly and the handicapped on the upcoming train ("Rail could be tough on elderly," Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 17).

I am about 10 years younger than Dean and ride TheBus regularly. I have noticed other passengers quite willing to help the elderly and handicapped, giving up their seats and helping them with packages. I have also seen students from Kalani High School regularly give up their seats for me when I board, so I imagine that would also be the behavior of passengers on the train.

Dexter Wong
Waialae-Kahala

Offshore windmills hard to maintain

The editorial recommending caution before committing to the offshore windmill project proposed by AW Hawaii Wind is right on ("Strictly vet offshore windmills plan," Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 12).

One fact not mentioned is the huge cost of maintenance.

Sea water and sea spray wreak havoc with all things mechanical and electrical. Several corrosion-susceptible devices on the 102 windmills proposed will require constant inspection, maintenance and repair. They include pumps to move ballast water; motors to change blade angles; motors to turn the mills; generator bearings; and mooring cables.

The company’s estimate of a 50-year life is only a guess. When the mills wear out, they’ll have to be removed.

Who will pay for all this?

Robert Rau
Kaimuki

Renewables subject to natural disasters

One hundred percent renewable energy by 2045?

House Bill 623 — passed by the Legislature, signed by Gov. David Ige and praised by advocates as groundbreaking for our state — makes one wonder if our government has taken into account that as an island state we are subject to hurricanes, other natural disasters or, God forbid, a solar flare or an electromagnetic pulse?

What happens to all these windmills and solar panels when the next big hurricane strikes Hawaii? High winds, storm surge and flying debris have the potential to damage and destroy our only source of energy production. What is our government’s contingency plan to provide our energy needs when disaster strikes and these vulnerable sources of energy production are off line, damaged or destroyed?

Not to mention, what insurer will cover such damage or loss?

I wonder how it will look as a historic or groundbreaking day when disaster strikes and we are left in the dark.

Tony Sylvester
Hilo

NextEra isn’t really a ‘green’ company

When it comes to being "green," NextEra Energy, Inc. is all smoke and mirrors.

NextEra is known for writing self-serving requests for proposals; hiring one lobbyist for every two state legislators; contributing millions of dollars to state political candidates between 2004 and 2012; winning concessions from the Florida Public Service Commission and raising rates.

Newsweek magazine ranked the world’s largest companies on "green" corporate sustainability and environmental impact for 2015. NextEra ranked 216 among U.S. companies and 310 in the world as a "green" utility company. It got a 37.5 percent "Green Score."

Can Hawaii afford a utility company whose ethics are based on "pay-to-play," purchases political influence, manipulates RFPs so only inside subsidiaries can bid on jobs, fails to safeguard consumers but lavishes rewards on shareholders and does not even reach a 50 percent "Green Score" halfway mark on corporate sustainability and environmental impact?

Kenneth Williamson
Waianae

Drivers, bicyclists should take care

I sincerely apologize to the two bikers whom I inconvenienced on Saturday when I blocked the bike lane on King Street. I misjudged the flow of oncoming traffic and got stuck in the lane. I take complete responsibility for that.

I would like to say a special thank you to the gentleman who hit the back right of my car in what I can only surmise to be a lesson to me. You are right, sir, I was a poor neighbor, and while you have absolutely no right to hit my car, I understand and empathize with your frustration. I hear your message and promise to be more careful in the future.

I also will continue to support the bike lane project and stand up for it against opposition as I have for the last six months, as I believe in the Complete Streets plans in our community.

Kym Sparlin
Makiki

Housing developer could help veterans

As a local Vietnam veteran renting in Kailua, it sure would be nice if the Kakaako condo builder detailed in your paper could offer VA/FHA options ("Kakaako condo builder touts prices," Star-Advertiser, June 15).

Due to the armed forces’ high off-base housing allowances, along with my fixed income, I may soon be homeless in Windward Oahu.

David S. Kent
Kailua

GMO-friendly pols overruled scientists

There’s a new book out that your readers with a serious interest in the GMO controversy should know about: "Altered Genes, Twisted Truth: How the Venture to Genetically Engineer Our Food Has Subverted Science, Corrupted Government, and Systematically Deceived the Public," by Steven M. Druker.

Before reading this book, I considered the whole anti-GMO movement overwrought and underinformed.

However, Druker’s description of how the scientific community within and outside the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture was essentially overruled by political appointees is quite convincing; all the more so, as my experience in Washington as a senior executive during the George W. Bush administration makes his account completely believable.

Patrick L. Brown
Kailua