All clean energy is just a dream

Gov. David Ige’s dream of total energy independence in 30 years’ time is just that, a dream.

Fuel oil, coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be with us for at least the next hundred years. Hawaiian Electric Co. is right to be taking a serious look at LNG. The long-range economics are very compelling.

The governor’s idea of separating out the generating part of our electrical system may work on the mainland, but not here, where we have a single distribution base. Floating this idea looks like a political power grab. Putting the government in charge of power generation will be akin to putting the city in charge of a railway. And we know where that is taking us.

The governor’s open hostility to fossil fuel and NextEra will end up costing more than we can imagine in the next 30 years and beyond.

Wakefield Ward
Kuliouou

NextEra’s record not inspiring

You’ve heard the phrases, “Do as I say and not as I do.” And, “The proof is in the pudding.”

Now look at NextEra’s track record in Florida. Its largest energy-generating source is nuclear and “dirty” energy obtained from fracking. It says Gov. David Ige and Hawaii’s goal of achieving 100 percent renewable green energy by 2045 is unrealistic.

This is a corporation trying to make profits. Its business model collides with business and homeowner PV roof systems’ net-metering and Hawaii’s goal of green energy.

Stop the madness. Just say no.

Chris Jansen
Mililani

Utility on Kauai could be a model

Congratulations to Gov. David Ige for questioning Florida-based Next Era’s unclear plans for Hawaii’s 100 percent renewable energy goal.

Why will it show its plans only after the takeover is approved? Will we be giving up local control and loss of local jobs? Why do only 7 percent of its customers have solar and 68 percent rely on fracked gas?

The film documentary “Gasland” showed us ill effects of this heavily lob bied, multi-million dollar industry. Is it true that NextEra passes the costs of cleaning up its polluted messes and lawsuits to their customers?

It seems Kauai’s electrical utility was successful in passing on its profits to its customers. A locally owned cooperative could work, with profits and jobs staying in Hawaii. We need answers from this fracking business.

Jody Green
Waimanalo

Student travel still possible

The State Ethics Commission has ruled that teachers may not accept “free” trips from travel agencies.

Perhaps the ruling is an outgrowth of thoughtless “zero tolerance” policies that have become popular in recent years.

Since the longstanding tradition of “free” trips has never been shown to have resulted in kickbacks or any actual corruption, the commission should have and used common sense in declining to rule.

But the trips were never “free” or a “gift” from the travel agency in the sense that the fees charged to the students covered the teacher’s trip. A simple solution might be to take the travel agency out of the picture and make this transparent: a trip priced at $500 each for for 10 students could be made available for $550, with $50 explicitly going to the teacher for his or her expenses.

John Keiser
Kaneohe

Trump awful but he’s no politician

If I have the opportunity, I will consider voting for Donald Trump.

Trump is a caricature of everything that’s wrong with this country. He’s xenophobic. He’s a misogynist. On major issues, he usually contradicts himself in the same sentence.

But, he’s not a politician.

Congress is completely dysfunctional. No words can define its ineptness. President Barack Obama is no better. He’s deported more immigrants than any other president. He’s responsible for the killing of hundreds of innocents through his killer drone program. Our country is more divided by racial and economic lines than ever before.

Why not Trump? We deserve The Donald. I hope some Hawaii politicians are reading this. Homelessness is up. Our children are dealing with hot classrooms and food insecurity. Our infrastructure is inadequate and crumbling.

Tell me again why I shouldn’t vote for Trump?

Chuck Cohen
Kalama Valley

Help homeless by engaging them

Much discussion is ongoing about the homeless situation, but never mentioned are dignity, participation and commitment.

For those who are homeless because of job loss, inadequate income and medical or other economic factors, we should treat them with dignity. If people don’t believe in you, it’s hard to believe in yourself.

For all who want help, let them participate in creating their new shelter. They can help in construction or by providing clerical or other services that help others in similar situations.

The homeless need to commit to a program, but government must have a program to take them off the street and restore their self-sufficiency.

A good example of this is Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaii, which can help homeless people recover and help build their own homes.

To go from living on the street to owning a home on the street would be the pinnacle of success.

Leonard Leong
Manoa

Canal plan is big waste of money

Surely there is a better way to spend taxpayers’ dollars than on a fence (“Law targets Kapalama Canal camps,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 20).

How many housing units could be fixed and rehabbed for a quarter of a million dollars?

The city has lost its direction. If city officials don’t want the homeless back on the banks of the Kapalama Canal, plant bougainvillea, enforce the laws and make housing affordable.

Pauline Arellano
Mililani

Waipahu is sign of things to come

In order to avoid traffic on H-1 Kapolei to Waikele, I decided to go through Waipahu via old Farrington Highway instead.

It was, first of all, a maze of lanes with extra-bumpy streets. Second, Farrington Highway looks so absolutely awful with the huge rail built high on top and in the middle of the highway. In my experience in many cities, rail transit lines are built on the outskirts of a town perimeter, not smack right in the middle of a town where people live.

It looks as if you can jump from some of those apartments right onto the railway.

Waipahu looks so very ugly with the huge columns right in the middle of the street. What were the architects of this rail thinking when they designed this? Worst of all, who approved the design?

My heartfelt sympathy for the residents of Waipahu. I wonder what happens if this is built in the same way in other parts of Oahu?

Rosita R. Sipirok-Siregar
Makakilo