Complete the plant
The past few cloudy, rainy months resulted in electricity bills high enough to make my rooftop photovoltaic solar system not only ineffective, but also a financial liability. Besides paying the electric company, I also made monthly payments for an unproductive PV system.
I still support solar but wonder what will happen when the solar industry faces a stretch of bad weather, their battery storage is depleted and not recharged?
Like anybody else, with less product to sell making for less income to pay fixed expenses, they will have to raise prices to survive. Then what happens to us when the electric company stops using oil that would make up for shortages from intermittent solar? We get less but pay more?
Also curious, what are the mitigation and recovery plans for when a hurricane scatters acres of solar panels or a lava flow buries them? Not if, but when, right?
Will we return to rolling blackouts or shut down tourism again not because of a virus but because of no power? If we put more eggs in the solar basket, what are the assurances our frozen foods can always stay frozen?
Hawaii’s isolation, past disasters, COVID and supply chain crisis necessitates developing diverse sources of energy for (1) security and (2) to reliably meet our increasing 24/7 needs.
It is just plain common sense to complete Honua Ola Bioenergy and get its locally produced renewable energy online ASAP!
Honua Ola Bioenergy is a strong teammate to solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel and other biofuels to achieve Hawaii’s renewable energy goals and independence from fossil fuels. We need them all!
Definitely in the public interest, a diverse source of reliable producers creates competition that should keep energy prices reasonable and ensure our energy security.
Complete Honua Ola Bioenergy!
Glen Kagamida
Hilo
Community support
The Paradise Studio Tour Artist Collective would like to thank the Big Island community for their generous support in purchasing artworks from the 18 members who showcased their work during the 15th Annual Paradise Studio Tour in the Keaau Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision the first weekend in December.
This year we were happy to sponsor a booth for the Abled Hawaii Artists group with their own member art products.
Due to your purchases, this year the collective will be able to donate $2,623 to the three local Puna District high school art departments for much-needed supplies (Keaau High, Pahoa High, Hawaii Academy of Arts School).
In 15 years, this brings our total donations to over $22,623! Each participating artist donates 10% of earnings over their first $100, so for this year alone that means over $28,000 was spent on local artist’s work in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
We are all so honored that our mission to support and encourage art and fellowship among artists and encourage art education in local high schools for art supplies is successful because of you!
President Kimberley Langston Hagen
Volunteer Patti Pease Johnson
