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Editor’s Note: Larry Tool delivered the following remarks at an Integrated Resource Planning meeting on Molokai on Dec. 13. The was hosted by the Maui Electric Co.

A pushy journalist once cornered Gandhi and demanded to know just what he thought of Western Civilization. His reply was, he thought it would be a good idea.

I feel the same way about resource planning in Hawaii. A state made up of small, fragile islands desperately needs a thoughtful, creative planning process, and the political will to enforce it.

I think this group could be part of that effort. It certainly includes some of our state’s most knowledgeable and creative people in the energy field. It’s a great idea to bring government and business and experts together to discuss our energy future.

But is this really planning?

Is it planning when the first paragraph of the enabling docket says the utility is free to ignore the IRP recommendations?

Is it planning when the RFP for the undersea cables is due long before you release your recommendations?

Is it planning when the impacts of the cable and related projects on local communities, on the environment, and on ratepayer wallets are not integrated at all, but only included as an afterthought?

Is it planning when the monopoly utility’s equipment, financial condition, and capacity for reform are excluded from the discussion?

Don’t get me wrong, I applaud your intentions, but please, let’s do this right.

To me that means: Halt the RFP, take all the issues and impacts into account, protect the natural resources and the beauty of Hawaii, shine your searchlight on the utility itself, and require the utility to comply with your recommendations.

Unless you do these things, you may find yourselves in the absurd position of killing tourism to boost the economy, or destroying hunting, fishing, and ranching on Molokai in the name of sustainability.

To paraphrase Gandhi, I think Integrated Resource Planning would be a good idea. Why don’t we give it a try?

About the author: Larry Tool lives on Molokai and is a former college instructor, longtime Bay Area business owner, local official in Martinez, CA in the mid-90s, reviewer for the San Francisco Chronicle in the 80s and 90s.

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