FUTURE MAYOR RAISES HOPES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

While reviewing Alan Arakawa’s pre-election campaign promises (Maui News 11/4/02,) I was heartened to see that he supports exploration of alternative energy and the creation of a recycling facility on Maui.  This makes me very hopeful.

Maui is in a unique position to create a model of environmental and economic sustainability.  We don’t have to wait until we run out of fossil fuel before becoming energy self-sufficient.  We can begin planning our future today.

I dream that we’ll use the abundant sun and wind to power our beautiful island as opposed to shipping 7 million barrels per year of non-renewable foreign oil across the Pacific.  In my dream, we’ll consume less, waste less and have more time to enjoy our lives.

I’m aware of the diverse group of people who share my dream.  I see them backing away from a lifestyle fueled by nearly 60 barrels of oil per person each year.  Many of us wish to wean Maui from dependency on the mainland.  Others feel our current level of energy consumption is obscene when compared with the world average of only 9.5 barrels per person per year.  Some are trying to recapture the simplicity of a bygone era.

All who dream of environmental sustainability look forward to Alan Arakawa’s plan with hope that it will help steer us away from dependency on fossil fuel and promote legislation to encourage the use of renewable energy. 

Camille Armantrout