ELECTRICITY, ENERGY ISSUES TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT

House focuses on energy-related issues on Feb. 12 and 13

Two national consultants hired by the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) will present their findings on Hawaii's potential to expand usage of renewable energy sources on Monday, February 12, in Capitol Conference Room 325 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The presentations will be made to a joint informational briefing of the Energy & Environmental Protection and the Consumer Protection & Commerce committees.

The consultants are William R. Jacobs, Jr., principal for Generation Support Services, GDS Associates, Inc., of Marietta, Ga., and Karen Conover, CEO of Global Energy Concepts based in Kirkland, Wa.

"The main thrust of this exercise is to gain a clear understanding of what is Hawaii's renewable energy potential and then using this information to help set realistic goals to meet our state energy policies," said Rep. Hermina Morita, Energy & Environmental Protection Committee Chair. "We all agree that we must reduce Hawaii's dependency on imported fossil fuel, the real challenge is how to go about doing it."

She said the information presented at the briefing also will be useful the next day (Feb. 13), when the Energy & Environmental Protection Committee holds a public hearing on four measures directly related to renewable energy, including a measure to establish a public/private partnership for hydrogen research and development (House Bill 1554).

"For an island state like Hawaii, where we import 90 percent of our energy needs, we need to be proactive in addressing our future," Morita said, adding that while some believe Hawaii should be cautious on energy matters because of the California energy crisis, "Hawaii's economy is in jeopardy as oil prices continue to rise. A wait-and-see attitude puts us at risk."

House Democrats have already indicated they support a shifting of the State's energy policies toward greater usage of indigenous, renewable energy sources. The Feb. 13 public hearing will be in Capitol Conference Room 312, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

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