An Alternative Source of Energ
Alternative Solution for Hawaii=s Future Source of EnergyWhat would life in Hawaii be like without energy? We would have no lights, no refrigerators, no TVs, no VCRs, no gas. We would have to do without automobiles, airplanes, banks, movies or mail. Imagine Hawaii with no cooking, no air conditioning, no computers, no traffic lights, and basically no jobs. We would have very little left of what we take for granted. Imported oil is used to supply about 90 percent of Hawaii's energy needs. No place else in the United States is so critically dependent on imported oil. Unlike the Mainland, Hawaii can't turn to neighboring states to make up for any temporary or permanent energy shortages. Unlike any other state, imported oil is the single thread that can completely unravel Hawaii's future. But Hawaii is blessed with a variety of other energy sources lots of sunshine, strong winds, fastgrowing crops, flowing streams, geothermal heat, and both warm and cold ocean waters. All these resources have the potential to help produce energy and reduce our dependency on imported petroleum. Hawaii is determined to explore the best ways to take advantage of its renewable energy resources. Each of the
renewable energy resources will defiantly help slow the process of global warming by reducing air pollution. Wind cost on the neighbor islands could be lower due to better wind regimes. Reduced reliance on imported oil supplies and exposure to the volatile prices of the world oil market. us/dbedt/) Why should Hawaii increase the use of renewable energy for electricity? A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a policy to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Although extensive and successful testing of OTEC has occurred in experiments on component parts or small scale plants, a pilot or demonstration plant of commercial size needs to be built to further document economic feasibility. I can only hope that HECO will seriously consider not just OTEC but solar, wind, or hydro power, to be used on a much larger scale where we don't have to rely so heavily on imported fossil fuels. So why does Hawaii continue to import oil and coal to provide electricity and fuel? The cost of these fossil fuels (not including transportation fuels) Afor 2000 is estimated by DBEDT (Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism) at $1. It sets minimum targets for the production of electricity generated from renewable resources. HECO internal estimates for photovoltaic are 3040 cents/kWh. Until the day comes when OTEC finally does receive large funding for larger scale production, "it will remain in a experimental stage.
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Acceptance Essays
