Comments on: Hawaii’s Renewable Energy Revolution

By: B Elwin M

B Elwin M — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:12:30 +0000

The key word here is “USE”. We don’t use energy, we abuse it. If the energy was used properly, we would use about 45% less energy and reduce out carbon footprint to almost nil.

By: Jeff Miles

Jeff Miles — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:11:11 +0000

Great Post, It seems the big oil price surge woke up the local govt to think about importance to be self reliant.

Solar thermal for heating water is most efficient way to use solar power, electricity production is way to costly to justify as per present technology.

Bio diesel , natural gas production from food , organic and human waste can meet local community, residential needs while reducing methane and carbon emissions.

wind energy is cost competitive and will pay for itself.
Natural gas power plants can meet additional requirements.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Super post, Need to mark it on Digg
Have a nice day

By: Priestmonk Bartholomew

Priestmonk Bartholomew — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:25:31 +0000

I find it less than honest or intelligent to take the “we know more than anyone before us” attitude with regard to energy use and conservation.

I live on the Big Island of Hawai’i and off the grid for more than two decades in a community that has no public services (telephone, water, electricity, trash pick up and etc). I am appalled that No One has consulted with farmers who have lived using solar and 12v as well as inverters for 110v and catchment for water etc.

Over 20 years ago I had solar panels on my truck in Berkeley but was considered nuts…like the early biodiesel folks- when will we learn to use resources rather than arrogance?

By: R.Murashige

R.Murashige — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:15:43 +0000

You seem to have the same vision that many had several years back. Pohoiki Geothermal Power Station is something you need to visit. It is on the slopes of the east rift zone, an active rift, (last activity – 1960, About 3.5 miles away). Po0hoiki is not producing anywhere near trhe planned objectivr. The earth below is cooling and new wells are constantly being drill to offset the production loss. They are into horizontal drilling.
Insurance companies have ‘black listed’ home insurance in the area.
The East rift is where Puu OO is. It has been active since 1982, with magma still flowing into the sea.
Frankly, I think this plan is a ‘make work’ project funded by the ‘Hill’.

By: dan

dan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:20:20 +0000

It still seems that in this debate we miss the one thing that needs to be done. We need to move energy companies from producer to distributors. If each individual would take responsibility for their own home, let’s say, combining solar, wind power, providing the excess back to the grid, taking from the grid if needed, storing as needed. We would produce a much more efficient system that would require far less fossil fuel, and it’s emissions. The technology virtually pays for it self, and will become much cheaper over time. We need to stop waiting for government programs, do what is right and profitable for ourselves.

By: WB

WB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:38:10 +0000

Hawaii seems like a natural place for geothermal energy since it is a volcanic island, Iceland uses
geothermal and it is also a volcanic island.

By: hsr0601

hsr0601 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:59:06 +0000

The vehicle-to-grid communication technology is helping the battery serve as a storage to prevent the costly blackout standing at about $90 to 100bn per year. That means utilities are shedding cost for additional storage facilities and ratepayers are selling electricity for peak hours so that EVs can make more economic sense, as we know.

By: G Ballantyne

G Ballantyne — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:14:22 +0000

It is great to see any jurisdiction adapting new technology but a proven patented system of natural microbial drying that turns any organic material including human and animal biosolids into clean green naturally produced solid fuel is being opened to the world markets. Imagine no fossil fuel use to create energy, clean odor free installations that produce fuel 24/7 having a very small carbon footprint and leaving no CO2 no methane or other NOX gases in its creation or use. It is available and it is the future, watch for it, it is changing the world.

By: Dave R.

Dave R. — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:18:23 +0000

How will the hydrogen be obtained, and how will it be stored to mitigate losses prior to use in a vehicle or residential unit? Please provide a more detailed, sophisticated and technically rational answer than merely stating “water” and adsorption or absorbtion or in the form of a compressed gas or in a liquid. As an engineer I am currently a skeptic.