Plan sought before energy decisions

LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County Council members Jay Furfaro and Derek Kawakami agree on the need to implement the island-wide energy sustainability plan before making other important energy decisions.

In separate telephone interviews Friday, the council members of different generations both said it is a bit awkward to be mulling specific alternative-energy programs, like a wind farm proposal before the Planning Committee chaired by Furfaro, when the draft of the island-wide energy self-sufficiency is due in October.

“My topic is the small-wind energy bill,” Furfaro said. “My concern is that it parallels (development of the county’s) overall strategic plan” for alternative energy.

“I’m a big supporter of having a plan in place first,” said Kawakami, chair of the council’s Public Safety/Energy/Intergovernmental Relations Committee. “The appropriate thing is to wait for that document.”

Another council member, however, said legislators have waited long enough.

“I’m thrilled that we’re doing an energy sustainability plan,” said Tim Bynum in an interview Saturday, noting that the consultants working on the energy sustainability plan told him the wind energy bill the council received from the Planning Commission “dovetailed nicely” with the plan as it is currently written.

He said he expected to have the consultants’ support for the legislation in writing in time for the council’s next Planning Committee meeting, scheduled for July 29, when work on the bill will continue after a two-week continuance.

“We need to encourage alternative energy, and this should be part of the mix,” Bynum said. “I don’t think there’s any reason to delay. I think the time to move this bill is now, and I don’t think the energy sustainability plan should be an impediment to that.”

While Furfaro said he understands the need to act on the wind bill in a timely manner, he said the council may have to defer the legislation until the county’s overall plan is available at least in draft form.

Some $400,000 has been appropriated for the county energy sustainability plan, and another reason Furfaro might want to delay action on the wind-energy bill is to see if the draft plan has suggestions for legislation the council could draft and discuss to aid alternate-energy development on the island.

There is also a question about whether or not small-scale alternate-energy generation methods would require county permits which trigger the need for a public hearing and Planning Commission approval, said Furfaro.

Kawakami said the county’s alternate-energy future is likely to include several forms of generation. “I think we’re going to find a solution in the mix.”

He personally prefers hydroelectric power, with its many island sources, though he knows there will be challenges.

It is “firm, predictable,” with zero emissions, but key challenges to be overcome are the existence of at least two endangered species in the hydro mix, the ‘o‘opu and Newcomb’s snail.

“The low-hanging fruit” remains energy conservation, how each and every Kauaian can and should be looking at reducing the amount of energy he or she uses, so there would be less pressure on Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative to develop new sources of electricity generation, Kawakami said.

“And I’m a big fan of solar,” said Kawakami, preferring solar-thermal over photovoltaic because of the prior’s energy-storage capabilities.

He is also looking at establishing a county-facility energy-use or light curfew, he said, wherein after certain hours of the day non-essential county facilities would have their lights and electricity shut off, in order to save electricity and money.

“Small changes we can make as individuals will make a big difference,” Kawakami said.

• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com