Energy

 ...The USW expects a response from the governor....

...huge wide roads were bulldozed through these Hawaiian sites causing massive, irreparable damage to the ancient Kualaka'i trail that is many hundreds if not one thousand years old....

Even though total wind power capacity grew by 30 percent last year, with 13,000 megawatts in new wind turbines, the actual portion of our electricity coming from wind energy did not increase proportionally....

The phrase “corporate welfare” usually leads people to clench their pocketbooks a little bit tighter....

“The message from both Lana`i and Molokai residents is very clear – no wind turbines, no undersea cables,” Carroll said.

Hawaii gets a greater percentage of its electricity from solar than any other state....

...the several planned LNG export terminal projects at Kitimat are probable sources of LNG for Hawaii....

...It costs 30,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide emission to produce an electric car, equal to about 80,000 miles of travel....

America is set to become a net natural gas exporter by 2020 and virtually self-sufficient in energy by 2035....

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) fails to satisfy all three pillars of sustainability....

A federal consultant says this area likely contains hundreds if not thousands of Hawaiian burials ....

...

Late last Friday, the State Department released a positive environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline....

...poop from 70 homes can power VW Bug for 10,000 miles!

Each EV that clocks about 50 miles per day consumes as much electricity as a modest house with 4 people....

The company is seeking to add up to 50 megawatts (MW) of geothermal energy from geothermal resource developers at prices not tied to the cost of oil ....

HSEA commends the Senate Ways and Means Committee for passing out SB 623 SD 1, which will close (reopen) renewable energy tax credit loopholes (that DoTax already closed)....

Question: Are these criteria written to discourage bids?....

Despite a surplus of LNG, the Department of Energy (DOE) is delaying the authorization of export licenses....

Ratepayers could be on the hook for as much as $3.5B of HECO's so-called "stranded costs" if SB120 becomes law....

"It doesn't make sense to exclude the USW on the governor's committee when we represent the majority of workers who will be affected by the refinery closure." -- USW

...Hawaii also is looking to boost its use of natural gas, and it will need a Jones Act exemption as well. It's time to strike on this issue now!

...summary of the major project components, including the gas pipeline, gas treatment facilities and the liquefaction, storage and terminal facilities....

The electricity that is produced from natural gas is 43 percent the cost of solar power, 68 percent the cost of wind power and 57 percent the cost of biomass....

More than 46 million pounds of waste was generated from solar companies in California between 2007 and mid-2011....

"...a 2011 Nissan Leaf that's a bargain to drive in Washington — $28.29 for 1,000 miles — is pricey in Hawaii, where those 1,000 miles would cost $97.21."

...state tax credit expenditures could reach $1.4 billion for residential units alone....

...the United States has more than a century’s worth of natural gas beneath its soil....

The tax credit for photovoltaic systems will be incrementally phased down from 30 percent of the actual cost to 15 percent over the next 5 years....

The long term economy of Waste to Energy (WtE) plants is very good....

“The Commission granted Hawaiian Electric and C&C a waiver from competitive bidding based on, among other conditions, demonstrated ‘site control.’"

Tesoro announced they were shutting down their refinery .... The question on everyone’s mind—what does this mean for Hawai‘i?

• Saturday, February 2 at 9:30 a.m. Hawaii Time
• Wednesday, February 6 at 7 p.m. Hawaii Time

In October 2012, HECO again raised the limit to 75 percent of minimum load (which roughly translates to 23 percent of peak....HECO's proactive approach, fundamentally, aims to move beyond arbitrary limits....

Comparison: Highest RETAIL electric rate on Mainland -- Connecticut at 19.5 cents per kwh

As part of the settlement, HELCO will withdraw its request for a 4.2 percent or $19.8 million rate increase in 2013. HECO and its subsidiaries will also reduce by $40 million the amount being sought for improvements to two major projects....

Request for Proposals (RFP) for 50 MW of Dispatchable Renewable Geothermal Firm Capacity Generation on the Island of Hawaii....

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Hawaii Renewable Energy Projects Directory....

In an unfolding plot that is part “The Sopranos,” part “An Inconvenient Truth,” authorities swept across Sicily last month....

"...we have a pretty good mess on First Wind and it is looking like it is going to get a lot worse and quickly...."

The purpose of the NPC is solely to advise, inform and make recommendations to the Secretary of Energy with respect to any matters relating to oil and natural gas....

...The Gas Company relies on a single source for its SNG: the Tesoro oil refinery....

...schools that enter into these contracts and see their electric bills drop will actually get to keep the savings as a result....

Should the Legislature require the state Public Utilities Commission to approve energy projects that further the state’s renewable energy goals even if it costs consumers more?  -- NO 75%

...rising cost of petroleum fuels coupled with strict new international air pollution regulations for ships are causing ship owners and operators to look seriously at the use of LNG ....

"the PUC rarely denies rate increases.” 

Why? Because transportation infrastructure deployment lags demand by decades....

Qualified KIUC Members may be nominated no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 1, 2013....

"Tesoro does not know what potential buyers might ask of state of Hawaii or federal officials."