LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative board candidates on Thursday revealed their positions on important energy issues facing the island during a forum at Kaua‘i Community College, hosted by Apollo Kaua‘i and the Associated Students of KCC. Students and audience
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative board candidates on Thursday revealed their positions on important energy issues facing the island during a forum at Kaua‘i Community College, hosted by Apollo Kaua‘i and the Associated Students of KCC.
Students and audience members formulated the questions, which ranged from candidates’ vision for Kaua‘i’s year 2020 energy mix to nighttime lighting at local parks.
Pat Gegen
When asked whether he would support hydroelectric development projects, Gegen said he believes we can tap into natural resources in an environmentally friendly way.
He said one of the ways KIUC can prepare for electric cars is encouraging people to recharge the cars at night so they don’t put undue pressure on the electric grid during peak times of usage.
But electric cars aren’t necessarily cheaper right now, he said, because of the cost of electricity. He said KIUC should take the lead and investigate the issue.
Gegen is the only board candidate who owns an electric car and generates his own energy.
He said when large users such as the Hyatt Resort, in Po‘ipu, go off the grid, the infrastructure charges get picked up by the ratepayers, and that’s of concern.
In terms of fixed costs, he said he believes members should have a greater choice in how the coop spends funds, using philanthropic donations as an example.
Regarding public communications at KIUC, he said it’s important for the utility to provide factual, up-to-date information. As an example, he said the project chart in the November 2009 edition of the coop’s Currents magazine hasn’t been updated to reflect what’s really happening.
In closing, his focus would be on alternative energy, renewables, transparency and demanding reduction, he said.
JoAnne Georgi
Georgi said she recommends investigating nuclear power. The island need more load-bearing energy technology, meaning a more steady flow of energy available at peak usage times, according to her.
Nuclear stations the size of a garage, she said, would support 20,000 homes for about $200 a month, and the Navy has the technology and could manage it well.
She said she does not think electric cars are feasible right now because of the cost of electricity. We have to deal with electricity costs first, she said.
When asked about non-homeowners and what they can do to lower their bills, she recommended KIUC to start reigning in spending on superfluous things to help lower bills.
She used KIUC’s recent $10,000 expenditure to advertise hydro-electric plans in The Garden Island as an example.
When asked what should energy rates be, she said currently it’s 39 cents per kilowatt/hour, and should be 2.5 cents, but that’s not realistic.
She questioned why power lines are being buried in areas where there is roadway construction. She also recommended KIUC to use a higher grade of composite telephone poles that wouldn’t have to be replaced as often.
Georgi, a self-proclaimed fiscal conservative, said the coop wastes money on things such as the full-color Currents magazine and outside advertising. Such information could be provided attached to members’ bills, similar to how other utility companies do, she said.
The cost of producing and mailing calendars was another example. She said they often end up in the trash.
In closing, she encouraged KIUC to be more forward thinking.
David Iha
Incumbent Iha said he supports hydro development in an environmentally responsible way, adding that with financing, KIUC can control its destiny rather than wait on developers.
He supports hydro more than photovoltaic because of the stable energy delivery it can produce.
When asked how KIUC should prepare for electric cars, he said they have asked their staff to monitor the situation.
Asked whether board members should respond to questions posed by ratepayers who attend board meetings, he responded affirmatively.
He said 40 percent of the coop’s costs are in fuel, and that as a coop it doesn’t have a lot of assets, such as land.
Ku‘ulei Santos
Santos said she is weary of the potential environmental impacts of hydro and thinks more research needs to be done.
For a year 2020 energy mix, she said that the island’s natural resources should be tapped, and that if it were spread out among a variety of sources, it wouldn’t be so bad.
She doesn’t think electric cars at the moment are a big concern.
When asked what non-homeowners can do to lower their electric rates, she suggested that it seems that landlords don’t care what renters have to pay and thought the idea of a solar farm that leases electricity to renters is “kinda cool.”
When asked a question from the audience about the energy used by the big flood lights burning on playing fields at night, she said, “Get a timer. End of story.”
In closing, she said she is what she is and says what she feels. She can’t stand our electric bills; and “I may be young, but I’ve got it going on.”
Ken Stokes
Stokes said he doesn’t think we’ll ever see the Wailua hydro project come to pass, and wasn’t sure he would vote for it. He said we currently have hydro that could be further developed, and he is not persuaded that more is needed. We need to look at power available in ditches, he said.
In term of a year 2020 mix, he said he believes it would be a mistake for the utility “to put all the eggs in one basket” and that distributed generation will be a guiding force.
When asked about trash-to-power energy production, he said it’s not a very efficient way to produce energy and that the utility shouldn’t develop its energy future around it. He thinks it might also encourage people to be more wasteful and produce more trash.
Stokes was the only one who raised his hand when the panel was asked who knows what KIUC’s carbon footprint is, though he couldn’t cite it. The information is now available, he said, and we should be monitoring it year to year.
Regarding member communications, he said it’s interesting that utility board members should be concerned about the extra staff time it would require to communicate with the public. Social media tools can be used on the fly, he said.
He concluded that his goal is greener, sooner and cheaper, and encouraged members to join his blog.
Teofilo “Phil” Tacibian
We have seven hydros, incumbent Tacibian said, and in times of drought, they’re very quiet. He supports KIUC’s proposed Wailua River hydro project and said it doesn’t involve damming up the river. However, the project does include a dam and a reservoir, according to the project’s work plan.
For a year 2020 mix, he recommended looking for ways to store photovoltaic energy, developing small hydro facilities and biomass.
Regarding electric cars, he said the utility will be very cooperative and provide energy for them, but it’s not a priority right now.
When asked what non-homeowners can do to lower rates, he said programs are already in place and that people should check out all of the avenues available.
He said he uses gas for everything at his home, even the lighting.
Regarding communication with the community, he said KIUC is communicating quite a bit through Currents and KIUC’s website. “I feel we’ve done very well but can always improve.”
Tacibian said every department within KIUC has looked for ways to cut costs. When asked why these cost-cutting measures are not reflected in ratepayers’ bills, he said he didn’t know.
When asked how the utility could possibly know members’ wishes given the top-down communications methods, he said, “My people tell me what they want,” and referenced the utility’s periodic telephone surveys of 400 members.
When the Apollo representatives asked the sizable audience how many had taken the survey, approximately four people raised their hand.
He closed by recounting his 50 years of service, and said he “still wants to continue what he started.”
Peter Yukimura
“I love hydros,” incumbent Yukimura said. “They’re one of the solutions we need . . . I look forward to investigating projects like that.”
He said batteries are needed for photovoltaic for the year 2020 mix.
For preparations for electric cars, he said KIUC can’t have them putting a load on the grid at peak times.
When asked how would KIUC pay off its debt if the coop’s biggest customers decided to produce their own energy and go off the grid, he said KIUC would have to petition PUC to have coop members pay for it. But nobody can get completely off of the grid, he said.
Changes to rates in recent years reflect changes in the cost of fuel needed to produce energy, he said, and that cutting fixed costs keeps the coop from having to request more funds.
He closed by saying that he understands the pain of high bills and is “deeply concerned” about it. He said he believes we have to have a sustainable environment, which is why he is running.
All candidates raised their hands when asked if they believed CO2 causes global warming.
Go to www.hawaiistream.com for a full video version of the forum.
