It’s time to pull plug on power company
I just spent more than $20,000 to install a solar system on my home. My thinking was that it would save money and stop me from contributing to global warming as a result of using fossil fuels to generate power. I signed a contract with Hawaii Electric Light Co. to produce power that it could sell at retail in exchange for a power bill of $20.50 for grid use. Within a few months, HELCO decided to raise that monthly charge to $21.79 with no input from me. Further, they sold out to NextEra with no input from me.
NextEra now seems to want to do away with net metering rates and sell energy to me at retail rates during the times I am not producing. Broken promises and contracts. Lots of excuses.
The days of centrally produced power are coming to an end and people are willing to stay connected to the grid only if NextEra continues to honor its commitment to reduce fossil fuel generation and encourage solar (and other sustainable) generation. Tesla home power packs that can store energy from home generation will soon be available to everyone for around $3,300. New homes will be built with solar and storage. Old homes will install them. Why would someone producing energy at home want to fool around with a company that does not seem to care about its producers?
I strongly urge all of you who are considering solar to buy storage and go off grid. No more excuses for jacking up rates. No more broken promises. And no more lies and cheating. Just free electricity. Morgan Stanley thinks Tesla will kill your power company. I agree. It is time to pull the plug on NextEra.
Tom Beach
Waimea
Mahalo for blocking larger enterprise zones
Bigger enterprise zones would definitely hurt the pristine nature of the Big Island in the eyes of many. That’s why I give much thanks to Councilwomen Valerie Poindexter and Margaret Wille for postponing such a measure.
First of all, bigger enterprise zones would destroy the heavenly nature of the beautiful Big Island in addition to adding to the degradation of Mother Earth’s environment. The Big Island has already experienced bewildering weather recently. Just look at the devastation in Puna within the past year. The majority of California is experiencing severe drought conditions which is leading to a desert-like state. I don’t think you would like it to happen to the Big Island, too.
With extreme weather conditions becoming more devastating and unpredictable, it is definitely time to go on conservation mode. More planting of permanent forests is definitely a plus. All in all, the Big Island should focus on agriculture so the Big Island can feed the entire state of Hawaii. Food is the most important factor in human life and it would be sad if Hawaii Island became another concrete jungle. Think about it.
Dean Nagasako
Honokaa