Comments on: Mondo Waves, Ancient Gods in the Mix as Hawaii Heads Towards 70% Renewables

By: Mondo Waves, Ancient Gods in the Mix as Hawaii Heads Towards 70% Renewables | Triple Pundit « Sustainability Muse

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:26:28 +0000

[...] Mondo Waves, Ancient Gods in the Mix as Hawaii Heads Towards 70% Renewables | Triple Pundit [...]

By: Bruce Russell

Bruce Russell — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:02:18 +0000

The Gas Company (www.hawaiigas.com), the state’s gas utility and major propane provider, manufactures its synthetic natural gas (SNG) from byproducts of the oil refining process (there is no natural gas in Hawaii). It recently announced its initiative to begin manufacturing from animal and plant oils to bring the renewable content of its utility gas stream up to the goal of 50% by 2015 (and reduce its reliance on imported oil by that much).

By: Below2

Below2 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:38:48 +0000

But to tackle this globally will require huge funds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=688HLeGghXs&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLoY1GsTu9M&feature=channel

Will it be forthcoming?

By: Nick Aster

Nick Aster — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:42:37 +0000

I too was totally shocked to see how “un green” Hawaii is in terms of not just energy, but general attitude. On two different restaurant menus I saw Atlantic salmon and Maine Lobster as marquee items. Not that there’s anything wrong with the occasional indulgence, but it just seems utterly uninspired that those particular items should feature prominently. And then there’s the spam….

Seriously though, it just blows my ming that geothermal is not providing 100% of the states’ energy, including the cars. If there were ever a perfect laboratory for electric cars, Hawaii is it!

By: Peter Bland

Peter Bland — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:18:26 +0000

I recently spent a few months in the state of Hawaii and was shocked to see that a place that has so much potential for being green was failing to do the simple things. There are a few places that have solar panels(mostly for hot water)and a few “experimental” wind turbines, but the state is missing the point on energy and pollution issues. If the state continues to drag it feet on its energy and pollution problems it will lose its main appeal as a place of natural beauty. The first impression of the island from the airport is that of a place that is well past its prime and if the islands don’t become more assertive in the recycling programs they will be continuing to waste another potential resource. It all comes down to money but the money is now being used to provide energy via the use of antiquated generators that are inefficient and are polluting the air and water. Yes it will take money to convert to solar and wind but everyone will be better off. If you look at just the state owned building there is enough space for the panels that the state could use the diesel generators for emergency back-up rather than the prime source.