Don’t preclude utility options

The Nextera merger, if approved, would preclude better options such as publicly owned utilities and co-ops.

Rejection of the merger would allow these options, which deserve equal consideration.

Hawaiian Electric Industries recently announced $55 million in quarterly profits. Compare this to Nextera’s promise of $60 million in savings over five years.

Under a co-op or public option this $55 million would go to ratepayers every quarter. That’s 20 times the savings. Our savings would actually be much more, because a co-op’s capital costs are much less due to the availability of cheap co-op financing.

Currently, the private utility is rewarded for spending as much as can be justified. Under a public or co-op model, this perverse incentive is removed, and the utility is motivated to save money instead of maximizing spending.

I urge the state Public Utilities Commission to reject the merger and allow a brighter future for our state’s businesses and residents.

Russell Ruderman

State senator (Puna, Ka‘u) and board member of Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative

Keaau

NextEra effort seems smarmy

For me, NextEra taking over Hawaiian Electric isn’t about the savings (“Monthly savings? $1,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 2).

There aren’t going to be any, if there’s so much work to be done to save us more in the future.

It’s a little like saying, “Let’s build this house here so we don’t have to pay rent.” It will cost a lot to build that house.

The approach to convincing us that the takeover is for our own good is smarmy. I do not think the company is trustworthy.

HEI President Constance Lau wants out with her $10 million, meetings are behind closed doors and emails are withheld from the public.

For me, the big red flag was the hiring of a lobbyist to work the crowd.

Nope, smarmy.

Deborah Aldrich

Haleiwa

Clinton starting to look better

I am a 97-year-old conservative, politically a Republican, but with an open mind.

In the recent past, I favored party efforts to prevent a Hillary Clinton win, ignoring Donald Trump’s poll ratings as a knee-jerk anti-establishment reaction doomed to eventual evaporation. But his persistent lead in the polls worries me. I now favor a united effort to make certain we don’t find the White House occupied by a blustery, clownish bully, an idiot unthinkingly spewing outrageous rhetoric without an ounce of substance.

Squelching Trump may result in a Clinton victory, but when faced with two unacceptable alternatives, bite the bullet, discard the disaster and accept the less damaging.

Clint Basler

Nuuanu

U.S. sorely needs good leadership

The notion that our current president has in any way, shape or form provided the American people “leadership” is indica- tive of the degree to which we have devolved under his watch.

This administration’s foreign policy is spearheaded by imaginary lines in the sand and a disarmingly naive perception of the numerous threats to national security that we face.

Its domestic agenda has us grappling with potentially the lowest workforce participation rate in history, regulation and government meddling virtually choking the private-sector economy resulting in an anemic GDP, blatant and unabashed fabrication at every turn, and the division of society on every possible level.

If this is “leadership” then, my, how times have changed.

Joan Rank

Waialua

Rolovich was a great choice

Nick Rolovich is a great choice and the right coach for the University of Hawaii Warrior football team.

He learned coaching under June Jones, a great teacher and motivator.

We all should have great hope for a future of winning seasons.

Roger A. Hutchings

Englewood, Colo.

Hee coverage unprofessional

Someone at the Star-Advertiser must hate Albert Hee (“Politicians, kin and pals of tax cheat push judge for lenience,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 3).

That’s not front-page news.

Continuous re-hashing of details in a negative light? Multiple editorial comments? Name calling?

It’s disturbing to see anyone treated that way. It seems personal, judgmental and unprofessional.

We expect and deserve better from our daily paper.

E. Lalani Brown

Waianae