Alternative energies may hold the key
June 20, 2008
Molokai has capacity to be self-sufficient, expert says
The people of Molokai could put themselves off the main electric grid by turning to alternative energy sources, according to Henry Curtis, director of Life of the Land, a non-profit organization that aims to protect life and land in Hawaii.
No matter how high the price of electricity goes you still need to use it, said Curtis. But, people are really starting to cut back on the amount that they use, he said, adding that this has been a surprise to utility companies.
Although people are becoming more versed with becoming eco-friendly and going green, Curtis said there is one main reason for not making the shift from burning fossil fuels to using alternative energy systems.
“There is a lot of money to be made in fossil fuels,” said Curtis. “Even though everyone knows we have to get off of it, there are people who want to soak up every drop of it.”
There is still a lot of oil around the world and those who want money will go after it, whereas, since the sun and wind are free, sustainability does not retain as much value, he added.
People in Hawaii are known to pay some of the highest utility bills across the country, said Curtis, adding that less than 2 percent of the state’s energy comes from wind, solar or any other form of alternative energy.
While other states often use more gas, nuclear and coal elements, a majority of the Hawaii’s electricity comes from oil — an expensive feat when the cost of petroleum continues to rise, according to Curtis.
“I think many renewable resources are all cheaper than $40 a barrel of oil. We would save a lot of money [with alternative energy] and would keep the money circulating on Molokai.”
Curtis said Molokai has four assets that can make it totally self-sufficient: ocean wave energy power, ocean thermal energy conversion, solar power and wind power.
The ocean wave systems would be very efficient, he said, adding that wave power could give Molokai 200 times the energy it needs.
Hawaii’s first wave energy project was announced in February, according to the Hawaiian Electric Company Inc. (HECO), which provides 95 percent of people in the state with electricity. Oceanlinx Ltd. is expected to be providing Maui Electric Company Ltd. (MECO), a HECO subsidiary, with electricity through a system of floating platforms on the northeast coast of Maui.
The hardest one of these systems for Molokai would be wind energy, said Curtis.
“Wind has the most fluctuations depending on what the weather is like.”
First Wind, a Massachusetts-based wind energy company that currently operates a successful wind project on Maui, has already held community meetings regarding a proposed wind farm for the island’s west end. The project would sell electricity to Oahu and transfer it via undersea cables.
Ocean thermal energy conversion would provide the most reliable source of energy, said Curtis, adding that temperature differences between shallow and deep waters could power a heat engine that generates electricity.
Solar energy is fairly reliable, but like wave energy, it is unpredictable, said Curtis.
Meanwhile there are individuals on Molokai who are gearing their households to include solar energy systems.
Both Steve Morgan, a west end resident, and Walter Ritte, a Ho’olehua resident, have installed such systems on their properties.
They both use photovoltaic solar cells to power their homes. The cells are semiconductor devices and produce electricity directly from the sun.
The key to systems such as this one is that you learn to use less, and as a result, save money, said Ritte.
“We have become too energy needy,” said Ritte. “We’ve crossed the line of how much energy we use. It’s almost ridiculous.”
Morgan said he decided to install the solar panels for two reasons. First, his house is situated three-quarters of a mile from the nearest utility source, and it would cost about the same amount to run a cable to the house as it would to use the panels.
The second reason comes down to self-sufficiency, he said, adding that relying on alternative energy systems would be beneficial if a disaster were to occur or there were to be a temporary disruption in diesel fuel.
“There is a large demand because of oil prices,” said Paul Lucas, owner of Solar Engineering and Contracting, a company that installs solar power panels.
He said the biggest benefit to such systems is that once the initial cost of the investment for the system is recovered, individuals could save about $50,000 in electricity bills over 20 years.
Solar energy systems also help the environment by reducing the amount of fossil fuel burned to generate electricity.
Some other companies are also pitching in to the ‘going-green’ concept.
MECO provides customers with incentives for considering alternative energy systems, according to Kau’i Awai-Dickson, communications specialist for the company.
The company has developed a program in which it gives a $1,000 rebate to individuals or businesses that install solar water heating systems.
A typical system costs about $5,600, said Awai-Dickson, but added that the amount depends on the sun zone, family size and hot water use, warranty and system type.
So far this year, 12 Molokai residents have installed the systems, resulting in $12,000 in rebates.
Paddlers’ Inn is a business that had a solar system installed recently.
“People are really understanding the value of installing solar water heating,” said Awai-Dickson. “We hope they see that it’s saving from the use of more fossil fuels.”
Dickson said the motive for programs such as the one MECO offers is a combination of trying to work towards a renewable energy future and getting the community to secure energy and cost savings.
Curtis added that Molokai could also look at the other side of the equation — becoming sustainable with electricity would help alleviate its dependence in other areas.
“Once Molokai is truly sustainable, it can frame its own future,” he said. “I love Molokai and would love to see it stay the way it is and not be contaminated by other sources.”
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