New fuel cell could be answer
Since the first use of a patented solid oxide fuel cell technology, a new class of distributed power generator is now producing clean, reliable and affordable electricity, using the cleanest fossil fuel available — natural gas or directed biogas.
Recently, eBay installed fuel cells made by Bloom Energy to provide a cost-effective 24/7 solution for its data center. A partial list of major customers include Google, Bank of America, Walmart, FedEx, Safeway, Coca-Cola, Caltech, Nokia and Staples.
The technology provides power in units of 100-200 kilowatts, and more units can be added, providing enough power to meet the baseload needs of a mid-sized office building or a high-rise. This makes it simple to adapt to one’s energy needs.
The fuel cells use a low-cost, common, sand-like powder instead of precious metals like platinum or corrosive materials like acids. The systems are easy and fast to install practically anywhere, and are used outside the grid.
Wendell Lum
Kaneohe
Sen. Gabbard doing a fine job
Delta Westcot said that state Sen. Mike Gabbard became a Democrat because he "would never have become a senator as a Republican in Hawaii" ("Sen. Gabbard not representing district," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 14).
First, state Gabbard was elected as a Republican in 2006 and switched parties a year later.
Also, talking to a few people at a Kapolei farmers market is a poor excuse for evaluating the support or opposition to same-sex marriage in West Oahu.
In the 2010 primary election, Gabbard faced Michael Golojuch, whose family is front and center in the LGBT movement. Gabbard got 70 percent of the vote.
Two years later, Gabbard pummeled his Republican opponent with 72 percent of the vote.
So much for Gabbard being on the wrong side of his constituents, of which I am proudly one.
We love Sen. Gabbard out here for his tireless efforts in serving West Oahu.
Beverly Lee
Makakilo
ACA opponents like spoiled brats
Congressional Republicans say there are problems with the Affordable Care Act.
I think reasonable people agree.
But the ACA was intended to fix problems with the old system, so why the focus on throwing the whole thing out? Why not refine the existing law?
Because it’s President Barack Obama’s law and it’s all about "winning" — that’s why.
As reported recently in the Star-Advertiser, Mexicans now use the term "berrinche" or "tantrum" to describe Washington.
Berrinches are spoiled little rich kids, blind to their privilege and the effects of their misbehavior.
No matter how they spin it to the folks back home, that’s an apt description.
James B. Young
St. Louis Heights
Tea partyers our last, best hope
What is the most important issue facing Americans today?
Since Barack Obama became our president,the national debt has gone from $10 trillion to almost $17 trillion dollars.We continue to overspend by almost a trillion dollars a year, and cutting $85 billion caused a lot of hysteria. It seems like the tea party people are the only ones seriously trying to correct this problem.
If Obama along with help from his supporters and the media manage to demonize and destroy the tea party, we are heading down the road that Greece is traveling, only much faster and with a bigger bang at the end.
Warren Fukushima
Pearl City
Unruly kids now run our Congress
We all remember the kids we went to school with who always acted up to get attention — the ones who got so out of hand that the teacher would threaten to punish the entire class if they didn’t stop.But they didn’t stop, and the rest of us suffered for their selfishness and irresponsibility.
Ever wonder what those kids wound up doing as adults? Chances are, they’re members of Congress.
Keith Mattson
Hawaii Kai
