Molokai Clean Energy Initiative Unveiled
After five productive meetings the time has come to bring the general public up to date on the Molokai Clean Energy Initiative, or MCEI.
These monthly meetings are held at Kulana O ‘Iwi here on Molokai. They are sponsored by I Aloha Molokai and chaired by IAM President Kanohowailuku Helm. Our goal is to provide both a venue and a forum for communities, organizations and other stakeholders to meet together, share ideas, and envision a cleaner, more affordable energy future for everybody.
IAM is a nonprofit, volunteer community organization, originally formed to oppose the Big Wind turbines slated for Molokai’s West End. Two years ago we were approached by Molokai Ranch, our largest landowner. The Ranch wanted to discuss other issues of concern to the community. We promised we would talk, as soon as the wind turbines went away. This past Spring the Ranch canceled its lease agreement with Pattern Energy. At our first MCEI meeting we were able to keep our promise to the Ranch, and the Ranch is still participating in our discussions.
Another incentive for the MCEI came from our Legislature. Last session our own Representative Mele Carroll drafted a resolution to allow Molokai to opt out of Big Wind and the cable. Two House Committees amended and expanded our draft into a call for bottom-up planning statewide. This became House Concurrent Resolution 189, which passed unanimously. The MCEI is our effort to honor this Resolution and to set an example of bottom-up planning for the rest of the state.
We are confident this effort will continue. We invite everyone to join us, or to set up similar initiatives of their own on other islands. So far, our participants have included: Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Molokai Ranch, Maui County Energy Office, Maui Public Works, Department of Hawaiian Homes, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii State Energy Office, Office of the Consumer Advocate, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Maui Electric Company, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kohala Center, Ti Leaf Group, Sustainable Molokai, Habitat for Humanity, Island Petroleum, and many others.
MCEI has already been a success. Most participants continue to attend, and also to meet and form partnerships on their own. Although we have been able to explore the pros, cons, and costs of a Molokai utility coop, IAM has not yet chosen to support any particular project or organization. Where everyone’s power and wallet is at stake, we want to proceed with care and thoroughness. Once we do decide to support a particular option, we will present it to the whole community for discussion and consideration. All the information and options presented in our meetings are being recorded in minutes and collected in a matrix, which is updated each month. Matrix and past minutes are available upon request.
Mr. Helm saw early on that energy planning is closely linked with emergency preparedness. Without built-in redundancy and back up, no system is likely to function in a crisis. Several of our presenters alerted us to the fact that state disaster plans are incomplete, and that some statewide response sequences have not been established or tested.
Just on Molokai, we have a major shelter (the High School Gym) that doesn’t meet current codes, a west end with no fire station, an east end with a fire station in the flood zone, and other deficiencies. By weaving the preparedness issue into energy planning now, we hope to end up not only with a better prepared Molokai, but also with a better disaster plan for the state. For example, if a tsunami were to close major sea level airports, Molokai’s upcountry airfield could become a central staging area for air-borne relief – if the necessary infrastructure were put in place.
Looking forward, IAM plans to ask our Legislature to reaffirm HCR189. With our Representative, we are also hoping to explore legislation regarding emergency preparedness. This means bringing major shelters up to code, moving emergency equipment out of the flood zone, increasing energy back-up for vital services, and improving coordination with Maui and Oahu.
As we approach the end of the year, we are hoping to make our Third Annual Alternative Energy Festival a showplace for MCEI’s work to date. This year we are expanding the Festival to 3 days:
On Thursday, January 9th we hope to involve Molokai students in an Emergency Preparedness Fair, with service providers, hands on demonstrations, a mock disaster exercise, and prizes for student creativity.
On Friday, January 10th we will bring back community spokesmen, energy experts, and energy vendors for a Statewide Energy Forum, building on ideas from MCEI.
On Saturday, January 11th we will host an IAM Music Festival, with food, games for kids and one or two inspiring speakers. We invite everyone to come join the fun.
Because we live on small, remote and fragile islands, Hawaii does not have the margin of error for poor planning or wasted resources enjoyed by the mainland. We cannot afford wild guesses, quick fixes, or seductive sales pitches. We have to bring everyone together, explore all the options, and make plans that meet real needs with existing resources.
We are I Aloha Molokai, and that’s what we’re trying to do.
For more information go to , or call 808-213-1231.
About the author: Larry Tool is a former college instructor, longtime Bay Area business owner, local official in Martinez, CA in the mid-90s, reviewer for SF Chronicle in the 80s and 90s.
