HAWAII HAS WIND AND SUN

A pleasant thought, particularly if you're interested in New Energy.

Hawaii tries to tap wind, solar for clean energy; Renewables law aims for 20 percent by 2020 but obstacles exist
April 11, 2007 (AP via MSNBC)

WHO
Hawaii decision makers in politics, power companies and renewable energy businesses.

WHAT
The decision of how to best develop Hawaii’s especially noticeable and ample renewable energy resources, such as sun, wind and geothermal, without failing to provide the ready supply of energy the population is dependent on from traditional fossil fuel sources. Plans are in place to develop wave and geothermal energies. 16 100-foot-blade mills generate enough electricity for more than 1,200 homes in Hawi. A $200 million project off Maui that will power 15,000 homes is being developed. 80,000 solar water heaters serve the state.

WHEN
Despite the vast renewable resources, those responsible for keeping the lights on do not find the technology to rely on solar, wind and geothermal energy supplies to be presently adequate to the task. The state is committed legislatively to developing 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020.

WHERE
Throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

WHY
Sun and wind are intermittent and there is no technology to store their energy. There is very little infrastructure to draw on wave and geothermal energies. It is convenient for tankers moving between the Middle East, Indonesia and the US west coast to supply the islands with oil and coal.

QUOTES
"Our community understands the time is now to think about these things, and yet we demand that they keep the lights on," Mike Gresham, vice president for UPC Hawaii Wind Partners…
"The potential is huge. We're not lacking the resources," said Maurice Kaya, chief technology officer for the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. "There may be technological solutions to this intermittence, but we're not there yet."