ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, ALTERNATIVE FUELS
25/08/08 10:12 Filed in: Environment
Expanding efforts to utilize alternative fuels and alternative energy resources for electricity generation. Expand efforts to increase energy efficiency and conservation. Study and test many types of alternative energy resources : hydropower, solar hot water, photovoltaic installations, wind power, wave power, biomass to energy plants, non-crop biofuels, and fuel cells.
Expanding efforts to utilize alternative fuels and alternative energy resources for electricity generation. Expand efforts to increase energy efficiency and conservation. Study and test many types of alternative energy resources : hydropower, solar hot water, photovoltaic installations, wind power, wave power, biomass to energy plants, non-crop biofuels, and fuel cells.
Using energy more efficiently and conserving energy should remain a top priority - develop a comprehensive efficiency strategy. Support renewable energy initiatives that reduce global warming, and are cost-effective and environmentally benign for Kauai.
Support alternative energy projects , like Green Energy Team LLCís Biomass to Energy Facility (gasification of wood waste). This plant will generate almost 7 megawatts per day ñ 10% of present daily electricity generation. The gasification/thermal oxidation method the plant will use generates much lower emissions than the burning of diesel oil or naptha that KIUC employs. The main fuel will be albizia tree wood chips ), and pilot projects and studies into many kinds of alternative energy sources ñ to find ones that are cost-effective and environmentally benign for Kauai.
In landfills like ours at Kekaha, organic garbage rots and releases methane gas.
We must explore landfill energy projects to supply electricity and methane. Organic waste from livestock farmers can be efficiently converted to fuel (biogas).
Growing algae as a biofuel - Algae could be grown with little land use impact; it could avoid the food vs. fuel dilemma, and, in fact, could even be used to scrub CO2 directly from power plant emissions. Pilot projects to use algae as a biofuel are already underway on Maui and the Big Island.
The Council must participate in preparing KIUCís long-range Integrated Resource Plan; advocating in favor of transition to technologies, facilities, and practices that use renewable fuels, conserve nonrenewable resources, and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
- Maintain an energy advocacy/coordination function in County government.
- Advocate on behalf of Kauai residents and businesses before the State Public
Utilities Commission with regard to the regulation of utility companies and the
setting of electrical rates ñ on matters such as net metering payments to individuals and companies producing their own energy using alternative sources like wind power. Attend especially to the needs of lower-income residents and small businesses.
- Review and revise the Building Code to mandate energy efficiency in buildings.
- Invest capital funds to make County facilities energy-efficient and to reduce
operating costs. Convert to alternative electricity generation systems whenever cost-effective.
- Develop a proactive process for siting and designing power generation plants
and transmission lines to maximize cost-effectivenessm, while also being sensitive to community concerns.
Follow Mina Moritaís advice :
, GI 8/2/08 ìA lot of people here are so focused on PV (photovoltaics) because itís sexy, but the technology thatís mature, that gives us the biggest bang for our buck, is solar water heaters,î Morita said. ìThatís where we should be making our substantial investments.î
ALTERNATIVE FUELS
To deal with rising County energy costs due to the high cost of gasoline and electricity we must start buying County vehicles that are hybrids, or that run on biofuels, or electric cars that can run on electricity produced by alternative energy resources.
Supporting and expanding efforts to utilize alternative. Support biodiesel projects ñ including biodiesel from used cooking oil and algae biodiesel (manufactured in facilities that grow vegetable oil producing algae).
Focus efforts on non-food crop biofuels ñ clean biofuels. Crop based biofuels (like corn ethanol) can increase food prices and increase CO2 emissions. Non-food crop biofuels, such as Gay and Robinsonís sugarcane bagasse ethanol facility (12 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant and a bagasse-fired boiler and turbine to generate electricity) are the better way to go. Study cellulosic ethanol (such as switchgrass ethanol) to see if it can be produced without raising CO2 levels. Investigate production of biofuels from landfill methane gas, agricultural animal wastes, and other potential sources.
Turn garbage problems into energy solutions.
Conserve gasoline use by residents by testing full or part-time satellite County services centers on the Westside and North Shore. Residents could access County services like driverís license renewals without having to drive to Lihue.
Using energy more efficiently and conserving energy should remain a top priority - develop a comprehensive efficiency strategy. Support renewable energy initiatives that reduce global warming, and are cost-effective and environmentally benign for Kauai.
Support alternative energy projects , like Green Energy Team LLCís Biomass to Energy Facility (gasification of wood waste). This plant will generate almost 7 megawatts per day ñ 10% of present daily electricity generation. The gasification/thermal oxidation method the plant will use generates much lower emissions than the burning of diesel oil or naptha that KIUC employs. The main fuel will be albizia tree wood chips ), and pilot projects and studies into many kinds of alternative energy sources ñ to find ones that are cost-effective and environmentally benign for Kauai.
In landfills like ours at Kekaha, organic garbage rots and releases methane gas.
We must explore landfill energy projects to supply electricity and methane. Organic waste from livestock farmers can be efficiently converted to fuel (biogas).
Growing algae as a biofuel - Algae could be grown with little land use impact; it could avoid the food vs. fuel dilemma, and, in fact, could even be used to scrub CO2 directly from power plant emissions. Pilot projects to use algae as a biofuel are already underway on Maui and the Big Island.
The Council must participate in preparing KIUCís long-range Integrated Resource Plan; advocating in favor of transition to technologies, facilities, and practices that use renewable fuels, conserve nonrenewable resources, and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
- Maintain an energy advocacy/coordination function in County government.
- Advocate on behalf of Kauai residents and businesses before the State Public
Utilities Commission with regard to the regulation of utility companies and the
setting of electrical rates ñ on matters such as net metering payments to individuals and companies producing their own energy using alternative sources like wind power. Attend especially to the needs of lower-income residents and small businesses.
- Review and revise the Building Code to mandate energy efficiency in buildings.
- Invest capital funds to make County facilities energy-efficient and to reduce
operating costs. Convert to alternative electricity generation systems whenever cost-effective.
- Develop a proactive process for siting and designing power generation plants
and transmission lines to maximize cost-effectivenessm, while also being sensitive to community concerns.
Follow Mina Moritaís advice :
, GI 8/2/08 ìA lot of people here are so focused on PV (photovoltaics) because itís sexy, but the technology thatís mature, that gives us the biggest bang for our buck, is solar water heaters,î Morita said. ìThatís where we should be making our substantial investments.î
ALTERNATIVE FUELS
To deal with rising County energy costs due to the high cost of gasoline and electricity we must start buying County vehicles that are hybrids, or that run on biofuels, or electric cars that can run on electricity produced by alternative energy resources.
Supporting and expanding efforts to utilize alternative. Support biodiesel projects ñ including biodiesel from used cooking oil and algae biodiesel (manufactured in facilities that grow vegetable oil producing algae).
Focus efforts on non-food crop biofuels ñ clean biofuels. Crop based biofuels (like corn ethanol) can increase food prices and increase CO2 emissions. Non-food crop biofuels, such as Gay and Robinsonís sugarcane bagasse ethanol facility (12 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant and a bagasse-fired boiler and turbine to generate electricity) are the better way to go. Study cellulosic ethanol (such as switchgrass ethanol) to see if it can be produced without raising CO2 levels. Investigate production of biofuels from landfill methane gas, agricultural animal wastes, and other potential sources.
Turn garbage problems into energy solutions.
Conserve gasoline use by residents by testing full or part-time satellite County services centers on the Westside and North Shore. Residents could access County services like driverís license renewals without having to drive to Lihue.
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