Changing Cities: Ending Hawaii's Oil Addiction

[ALS]

Looking at all the options here in Hawaii, we have the sun, we have geothermal, wind, possibly wave, all the resources for us available in Hawaii,

Carrie Halperin - YAHOO - July 15, 2012

When you think of the most innovative places around the world for clean-tech, Denmark, where 50 percent of the energy comes from wind, might come to mind. Or maybe you'd think of Iceland, which is almost nearly 100 percent powered off geothermal, or perhaps Germany, which recently set a new world record in power generated from solar, but Hawaii?

U.S. Pacific Command is working closely with Hawaii, the most oil addicted state in the nation, to ensure that the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a plan launched in 2008 to reduce the state's consumption of fossil fuels by 70 percent by 2030 is a success.

"Pacific Command accounts for 20 percent of the island's energy demand, so Hawaii needed Pacific Command to sign on to make the Clean Energy Initiative work," Joelle Simonpietri senior analyst to U.S. Pacific Command Energy Office joint innovation and experimentation division told ABC News.

The military is using the Hawaiian islands as a test bed for new green tech innovation - everything from algae-based jet fuels and hydrogen fuel cell technology to smart-grids that can resist cyber terror.... [Read More]

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

It seems like a no-brainer to me, but I fear it won't happen.

[herm]

Why just cover the islands with windmills?

[dr61]

Very encouraging news from Hawaii and the US military.

[Kurz]

Originally Posted by herm

Why just cover the islands with windmills?

Because at best Wind power is only a supplement to any modern societies energy needs.

[bnther]

Originally Posted by Kurz

Because at best Wind power is only a supplement to any modern societies energy needs.

Not necessarily. It's true that we are still lacking in a adequate energy storage process. But Hawaii has a large amount of wind potential. I think that it is more than possible for Hawaii to meet the 2030 goal.

Densely populated urban areas, however, are a completely different story. I think that it would very difficult to make wind energy work for places like New York or Detroit.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Actually large population centers are useful for wind because it provides somewhere to send a lot of electricity. Maine may add offshore wind but it'll actually go to Boston.

[PaleMelanesian]

Hawaii has lots of wind, especially on the north shore. Where do you think the amazing surf comes from?

[herm]

We have gotten used to constant power all the time, but what about if its intermittent?.. we could adapt to it. Smart metering that would instantly change rates as controlled by the utility company depending where the power is coming from.. then your appliances could react and shut off as needed. Your AC system could cool down a salt water tank when the rates are low and use that when the rates get high.. or just shut off. Same with many other appliances, let market forces allocate the resource.

It is very likely that windmills may end up being more expensive than NG without taxpayer support.

[PaleMelanesian]

Ng is good, but for Hawaii that's just swapping one imported fuel for another.