There is NO Planet B
/Climate change is the most serious global challenge in the history of our species. Climate scientists agree that we have a much better future in store for us if we act quickly and with earnest to make significant changes--and it all comes down to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. House Bill 1801 HD1 helps Hawaiʻi do a better job of that by correcting flaws in the original renewable portfolio standard (RPS), ensuring 100% renewable truly means 100% renewable, in addition to extending the RPS to gas utilities.
With Hawaiʻi Gas moving forward to expand their use of fracked Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), it is crucial Hawaiʻi ensure that ALL utilities are mandated to achieve our 100% renewable energy goal. LNG has no place in Hawaiʻi's clean energy future and makes our dependence on imported, dirty fossil fuels worse--not better. LNG is made of methane, a potent, toxic, greenhouse gas. Any effort and expense to use LNG here is far better put toward reaching our renewables goal, rather than to invest in more fossil fuel infrastructure and projects that ultimately contribute to our own demise.
Remember: there is NO Planet B.
Bottomline: the gas utility should not have a lower standard than the electric utility. This bill enables a fair playing field in the transition to a renewable energy based State.
We need to fix the critical flaws in our RPS that would prevent us from ensuring a full and fair transition to clean energy. We must not undermine our own efforts to achieve our 100% renewable energy goal.
HB 1801 HD1 has a hearing on Wednesday, March 21, at 1:30pm in conference room 225. Your help is needed to flight climate change and protect the planet by submitting testimony in STRONG SUPPORT for this bill by Tuesday March 20, 1:30pm. You can use the following testimony as a guide, but remember, adding your own perspective and manaʻo is always preferred:
Aloha Chairs Inouye and Baker, Vice Chairs Espero and Tokuda, and members of the TRE and CPH committees,
I am writing in STRONG SUPPORT of HB 1801 HD1. This bill would amend the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to more accurately reflect the percentage of renewable energy penetration in the State. It also establishes a RPS and targets for gas utility companies that mirrors those set for electric utility companies.
We need to fix the critical flaws in our RPS that would prevent us from ensuring a full and fair transition to clean energy. We must not undermine our own efforts to achieve our 100% by 2045 renewable energy goal.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in strong support of this very important bill!