KHIS Renewable Energy Innovation Center
Building a Sustainable Koolauloa Community with Creative Innovators and Mentors
Profile Information
- Describe Yourself:
- Industry
- What field of Renewable Energy are you interested in:
- Wind, Solar, Tidal, Bio-Fuels, Recycling, Hydrogen, Other not listed
About
© 2009 Created by Christian Wilson on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
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One thing that comes to mind about power generation, co-generation, and net-metering, is what infrastructure is needed, assuming it's HECO, to "take" the power that might be generated by waves, wind, solar, etc.? If a localized source of alternative power comes into play, how could it be distributed? If, for example, a power source was located in Laie and supplied power to the Church entities, would new transmission lines be needed? Could a wave energy system off our shores be used for our own use or be required to go into the HECO grid?
It seems that we could use knowledgeable advice on power infrastructure. The ways to creat power are becoming more and more abundant; how to use it is not so apparent to me. I'm thinking in terms of tens or hundreds of megawatts. There's a transformer/power station next to the high school. Is that what's needed to accommodate new power sources?
Another thought, to clarify my membership: I work for Hawaii Reserves, Inc. and it's been the vehicle to get me and my helpers to the biodiesel production point we are at. I should clarify that I do not speak for HRI management nor make any committments in their behalf unless given specific permissions.
That said, I feel that conservation is important but can be accomplished through the market place rather than by legislation. The current ethanol debacle is a great example. By government mandating the use of ethanol and propping it up with subsidies, The Law of Unintended Consequences has rewarded us with food commodity shortages and skyrocketing prices. The largest biodiesel refinery in the US (Grays Harbor, WA. I visited it two weeks ago) lays crippled as its feedstock, Canola Oil, climbed to $4.68 a gallon. Canola oil is plentiful but has gone up in price along with soybeans, wheat, rice, and corn; corn demand driving up all commodities.
I take particular pride in refining used cooking oil into useable biodiesel. That this activity is considered "green" makes no matter to me. Making something that was destined for the landfill into something useful is reward enough. Discovering alternate forms of energy excite me but I'm still excited about petroleum products too! There will always be petroleum; I consider it to be as God-given as oxygen and carbon. I do not believe the fear mongering statements of those who claim that we are running out of oil. I loathe those who impair our ability to obtain and refine our own petroleum deposits to further their own agenda. Lastly, I believe that many radical environmentalists today are just reformulated Marxists, Socialists, or even Communists from former days. Their methodology is too similar: a small vocal minority affecting the majority and imposing faulty doctrines and premises upon us.
I believe the terms "carbon footprint" and "greenhouse gases" are derived from a huge faulty premise: that carbon dioxide contributes to "global warming". Contemporary scientists, unintimidated by conventional wisdom and hype, continue to debunk these theoretical assumptions. I'am very well read and on a daily basis, I can find as many scientific refutations as I can find those who promote impending doom.
If allowed to contribute, I will be a voice for common sense and market driven remedies, not legislation.