The four candidates for governor agreed Tuesday they want to move Hawaii away from high-priced oil, to lower energy costs for consumers and to take more aggressive steps toward adopting renewable energy.
All candidates proposed increasing the use of renewable energy sources but disagreed on the use of liquefied natural gas and the timeline for adopting renewables during a public forum.
Democratic candidate David Ige, Republican James "Duke" Aiona, Hawaii Independent Party candidate Mufi Hannemann and Libertarian Jeff Davis discussed Hawaii’s energy future at the Gubernatorial Forum on Clean Energy for Hawaii’s Future at the Laniakea YWCA.
Lowering the rates that Hawaii residents pay for electricity was a shared priority for all of the candidates.
"The bottom line: Bring down the cost of energy," Aiona said.
Hannemann called for the adoption of more renewable energy and questioned whether Hawaiian Electric’s current business model could accomplish that.
"I want to evaluate Hawaiian Electric, whether it can lead us to a future where renewables are the core of the energy strategy," Hannemann said.
The former mayor of Honolulu advocated for geothermal, encouraging a conversation with the community on Hawaii island.
Hannemann proposed to "conduct an independent review of geothermal. That is a renewable energy source that can really move the needle," he said.
Ige, a trained electrical engineer and state senator, supported the use of energy storage.
"The key for our energy future really is about storage for renewable sources because the generation doesn’t always align with the demand," Ige said.
All four candidates agreed that changing transportation is important as Hawaii faces high prices of imported oil.
Ige proposed the use and expansion of bike lanes as one solution for reducing fossil-fuel dependency.
Former Lt. Gov. Aiona advocated for electric vehicles as well as a "walkable city."
"Electric vehicles have made tremendous headway in the market," said Aiona.
Hannemann agreed and said he supports the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.
"Just as solar has been incentivized, so should we incentivize transportation," said Davis, the Libertarian.
While the candidates shared the need to embrace renewable energy, they questioned Hawaiian Electric’s goal of 65 percent of energy coming from renewables by 2030.
Aiona disagreed with setting a long-term goal.
"To set that mark right now is another pipe dream," said Aiona.
Ige supported the adoption of renewables but argued it was unrealistic to set a goal so far in the future.
"To decide what to do 20 years down the road is irresponsible," said Ige.
Davis wants the goal to be more aggressive.
"I think it is irresponsible to not set a goal of 100 percent (renewables),"said Davis.
The gubernatorial panel was divided on HECO’s proposal to use LNG as a steppingstone to renewable energy from imported oil.
HECO proposed converting its oil-burning power plants to LNG at a cost of $200 million.
Aiona and Ige said that using LNG as bridge fuel is a possible temporary solution.
"I support LNG to the extent that it will be a bridge fuel," said Aiona.
Ige agreed only with the short-term use of LNG.
"I do believe it can be bridge and only a bridge," said Ige.
Hannemann and Davis said they are opposed to the use of LNG.
Davis said LNG is "a bridge to nowhere."
Hannemann said he does not believe that LNG is cost-effective.
"It’s not renewable and it is not clean, and it is also going to be very expensive," said Hannemann.
