Geothermal works
I’m tired of hearing about Honua Ola.
In this day of global warming, anyone who wants to burn our forests to fire electric generation should be considered completely ignorant of the true facts. A big thanks to the Consumer Advocate for helping abort this ridiculous scheme.
The Big Island has practically unlimited pollution-free heat in its geothermal resources, which are available 24/7.
Just look at the one plant we have that was partially rescued from the local politicians by the worldwide producer Ormat Technologies. It charges only 6 cents per kilowatt hour after local royalties. Hawaiian Electric then charges the poor Hawaii consumer about 35 cents per kilowatt hour and sends the profit to Wall Street.
In Iceland, its consumers pay only 3 cents per kilowatt hour from geothermal and hydroelectric sources.
Hawaiian Electric ignores these huge 24/7 resources on the Big Island and projects more expensive land-hungry solar schemes, while hanging on to their beloved diesel-fired generators.
We could follow Iceland’s example and use our resources to smelt aluminum and manganese, giving decent jobs to our young people. Also, we could emulate Iceland, which cables electricity to Scotland, by cabeling power to Maui and Oahu to replace fossil fuels.
Allan Dougherty
Hilo
Senior moments
You’re old when you:
— use the bathroom more often but find you enjoy the solitude!
— obey all the traffic laws except the ones you forgot.
— don’t care what you look like and no one else does either!
— are excused for being fat but you think you’re hot for an old fat man.
— take afternoon naps and nobody calls you lazy (except your wife).
— take 14 pills a day but love the Prozac!
— worry about eating healthy but then realize you will not die young.
— are hard of hearing but love ignoring people.
— are slow but forgiven.
— forget you’re forgetful.
— ache all over but now you can say no to anything!
— are wiser but nobody believes you!
— forget more than you forgive.
— feel closer to God but it means meeting Him!
The good news is that no one expects you to change the world anymore. But that’s also the bad news.
Leighton Loo
Mililani, Oahu
