The state Public Utilities Commission did the right thing for Hawaii by unanimously rejecting Hawaiian Electric’s proposed merger with NextEra Energy.

Rejection of the merger also meant HECO’s withdrawal of a proposal to convert the state’s power plants to liquefied natural gas (LNG).

LNG is a bridge to nowhere. It’s dirty, risky and costly.

LNG was not going to be a “bridge fuel” toward renewable energy goals, but a diversion from the real work of building a truly sustainable energy system for Hawaii. Processing LNG releases massive amounts of methane. Fracking has been destroying ecosystems, polluting water and making people sick around the world.

HECO’s proposal to import LNG from Canada and build infrastructure to support an LNG system was a bad idea.

Yet, HawaiiGas is still pursuing LNG. HECO may also reintroduce a scaled-back LNG project.

Hawaii should instead take this opportunity to develop a more appropriate renewable energy system.

Bianca Isaki

Kaneohe

DNC emails likely dissed Gabbard, too

Oh, if we only could have seen trashy Democratic National Commitee emails about U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard right after Gabbard very wisely resigned as DNC vice chair to endorse Bernie Sanders (“Hacked emails overshadow Democratic National Convention,” Star-Advertiser, July 24).

Gabbard’s resignation proved she wasn’t willing to be party to this David-and-Goliath mismatch, and soon became a very useful stone in little David’s slingshot as he engaged the DNC giant.

And by resigning from the DNC, Gabbard sacrificed any chance — if Hillary Clinton wins — of landing a top political appointment in her administration.

We Congressional District 2 voters are proud of Gabbard for walking the walk.

I sure wish Washington had more Gabbards than DNC braggarts.

Richard Dinges

Hilo

Simple solutions could fix TSA lines

As I stood in a beyond-imaginable Transportation Security Administration (TSA) line to board a plane, I started to think about what we have not done to rectify this issue.

The media have covered the ever-growing problem of long wait times at the Honolulu International Airport, citing everything from a shortage of TSA agents to more travelers. But what about a simple solution?

I stood in line with predominantly international travelers. Has anyone thought about placing captioning in other languages on the TSA prompters?

I know I check the prompters in order to know what to do. Wouldn’t spending money to prompt people in their own language about TSA regulations be more cost-effective than hiring more TSA and airport security?

Serena Trehern

Kailua

Restaurants should have restrooms

With the current concern over hepatitis A, it may be time for government to address the issue of restaurants that have no restrooms for their customers.

It is frustrating to have paid for an order and then be told there are no restrooms for customers to clean up.

Parents changing a baby’s diaper or kids touching a variety of things, such as chairs, table tops and napkin dispensers, should wash their hands before eating.

Children are taught to wash their hands before eating, yet some food establishments refuse to recognize this important step.

If they don’t, they should have a sign stating this fact so customers may elect to eat elsewhere.

Leonard Leong

Manoa

4 inches of asphalt is best for repaving

While driving a while ago, I was taken aback — a road resurfacing was being done properly.

The contractor had scraped down more than 4 inches on Liliha Street, allowing the proper amount of asphalt.

For decades I have driven over our horribly maintained roads, nearly every one of them soon full of potholes and ruts.

Just consider the numerous ruts in the recently resurfaced Beretania Street, which was repaved at less than the full 4 inches. It’s falling apart already.

Let’s make sure that all future Oahu resurfacing is done with a minimum of 4 inches of level asphalt, regardless of the repairs being performed.

Jon von Kessel

Waikiki

We can’t afford rail going to Ala Moana

Middle Street would be an excellent end for the train, because buses could take train riders from there to a variety of destinations.

What we cannot do is put the train through downtown, and it cannot be run to Ala Moana. The cost would be too much.

I believe train fares will be so high that few will want to ride it. Fares will not provide enough money, so property taxes will go way up. With a higher cost of living, we will all pay for the train, whether we ride or not.

The cost of building the train will be nothing compared to the cost of running, repairing and staffing it. Year after year we will pay the awful costs and taxes to run the train.

Mark Terry

Wahiawa

Middle Street will work for bus riders

Stopping rail at Middle Steet will work for the majority of rail riders.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation told the City Council last December that the majority of rail riders (71,000 trips per day) will be former bus riders. The bus routes they used to ride will be turned into feeder buses stopping at the nearest rail station.

For example, the Country Express “C” will now stop at the rail station next to the new University of Hawaii at West Oahu instead of continuing on the H-1 to Ala Moana Center. The majority of riders will go to Middle Street or Ala Moana because they have no choice.

At Middle Street, they will just transfer to buses bound for their ultimate destinations.

John Brizdle

Palolo Valley