Now that it is clear that it is not in the public interest for Hawaiian Electric to serve as a snack for NextEra (“No deal,” Star-Advertiser, July 16), it is time to get serious about creating and implementing a process that taps our abundant natural resources and local talent, gets us running on renewables, and keeps the profits they generate here.

Renewable Energy Action Coalition of Hawaii (REACH) has started a conversation with the utilities on just such a process.

The governor’s office should seek funding and committed experts from academic institutions, foundations and other organizations to pay for a team of talent that will assist the state Public Utilities Commission in getting us to our 100 percent fossil fuel-free goal.

Rising sea levels pose the greatest threat we face and we cannot waste time with liquefied natural gas bridges and corporate decisions that externalize costs and pursue short-term profit.

George Cattermole

Waikiki

Hawaii unfriendly to outside business

Rich Wacker, Steve Colon and Stanford Carr are to be commended for their public assessment of the governor’s recent appointment to the state Public Utilities Commission (“Political interference clouds regulatory process,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 15).

Their frank comments will ensure that they should not expect favorable consideration of any projects that require state approval. And yet they are simply stating the obvious.

Hawaii has historically suffered from the outsider’s perception that we are a highly regulated anti-business state. The governor’s recent action does little to dispel the perception that we are unfriendly to outsiders who wish to conduct business here. It is unfortunate that we cannot embrace a business-friendly policy that offers fairness to all who wish to make Hawaii their home.

John Tamashiro

Pearl City

LNG would harm our environment

Do we really need liquefied natural gas in Hawaii?

It requires drilling 270 new wells, uses up to 1 billion gallons of fresh water for hydraulic fracking and could generate up to 26 million tons of climate- harming emissions — all in British Columbia, it’s true.

But won’t it harm our environment also? Are the short-term benefits worth the risk?

Please think about it and reconsider. Let’s not let our economy ruin our environment.

Chuck Overman

Pearl City

Rail project leaves people wondering

Politics aside, the rail transit project clearly is an alternative means of transportation for the people of Honolulu.

I often wonder if the population of the areas hosting the rail will ever reach densities of major cities like New York or Chicago that can make rail viable.

I wonder how long it will take to develop rail stations that will include accommodations for housing, child care, supermarkets, medical offices, jobs and parking that would make use of the rail preferable.

The biggest question in my mind is how much overlap will exist between people who already use public transportation and future rail users.

I expect many of the future rail users will be students, young couples and senior citizens — people who don’t have to shuttle their children to various activities after school. For the thousands of people of Mililani, rail really is not viable.

Arnold Imaoka

Mililani

There are reasons not to vote at all

I have made up my mind not to vote this year.

Yes, I am well aware that our forefathers fought and died to give me the privilege to vote, but they also gave me the privilege to make a decision to not vote as well.

Let’s get serious for a moment. Does anyone really think our vote matters? In this solid Democratic state, do we really think our vote changes anything that our governor or legislators do? I think not. A current state senator once told me that he “goes along to get along.” Really?

As for national politics, it doesn’t matter a hoot who we vote for to lead our nation. By the time we go to the polls, the results of the presidential election are well known and whatever we do is just going through the motions. Again, why bother?

Until there is an option on the ballot to select “None Of The Above,” which, if selected by the majority, means that none of the above candidates can run for office, I will not vote.

Dale Hood

Waipahu

Homeless should pick up their trash

It always astounds me to see the amount of trash our homeless leave for others to pick up. It’s as if to say they are entitled to trash our aina and irk us for their circumstances.

Using trash bags for pick-ups would be very little to ask of those squatting on our sidewalks, under bridges and in parks.

The manner in which we behave demonstrates our dignity and respect for self. Leaving trash for others to pick up is not at all a good way to inspire our fellow citizens to help. Not all our homeless suffer from mental issues.

Our homeless friends should pick up their own trash. It’s not too much to ask. Like it or not, we are neighbors.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock

Chinatown