HIRONO WILL PUSH FOR NEW FEDERAL MANDATE IF ELECTED, SHOWS HER LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

News Release from www.Lingle2012.com

HONOLULU – Campaign Manager Bob Lee released the following statement regarding Mazie Hirono’s energy policy.

“Mazie Hirono’s pledge earlier this week to impose a top-down, national renewable energy standard if elected to the United States Senate shows her lack of understanding about energy issues,” Linda Lingle for Senate Campaign Manager Bob Lee said.

Lee was commenting on a speech Hirono delivered earlier in the week at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo (APCESE), an event that began while Linda Lingle was governor.

“Any successful renewable energy standard must be based on the specific resources of a state or region,” Lee explained. “Her plan to impose a new, Washington, D.C. mandate just doesn’t make sense,” he added.

“Hirono doesn’t understand that energy policy is primarily the responsibility of the states, which are on the front lines of how electricity is generated, distributed and utilized,” Lee said.

“Currently, 30 states, including Hawaii, have their own renewable energy standards, and now she wants to wipe those out and impose a big-federal-government, one-size-fits-all standard,” he explained.

“This reflects both her well-known preference for a larger federal government role in the lives of people and businesses, and her shallow knowledge on Hawaii energy issues.”

The State of Hawaii requires that 40% of electricity must come from renewable sources by 2030. This standard was set as part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) after extensive discussion among elected leaders, energy and environmental groups, utilities and others.

“Unlike other members of Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation, Hirono played no substantive role in the HCEI process,” Lee said.

“Only now that she is running for U.S. Senate does Hirono want the people of Hawaii to believe she is the ‘energy’ candidate, but her record tells a much different story,” he added.

“During her 22 years as a state legislator and Lt. Governor, Hawaii’s dependence on imported oil and coal increased, and she did not introduce or implement any significant energy legislation or initiative,” Lee said.

“In contrast, Governor Lingle has demonstrated her commitment and leadership through the bipartisan HCEI effort to put Hawaii on course toward a clean energy future, and executed successful partnerships with the U.S. Dept. of Energy, various branches of the military, utilities and other agencies and organizations.

“As HCEI demonstrated, a renewable energy standard is an important part of an overall energy policy—but it must be determined and driven by states or regions,” Lee concluded.

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Related: Hirono: Hawaii Style Green Energy Scammers Should go National