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Building Everyone’s Future

Sunday, December 28th, 2008

Governor Linda Lingle recently announced that she will release over $1.8 billion for more than fifteen hundred of capital improvement projects around the state. She further promised to work with the counties and industry to expedite the permitting, design and completion of these projects to create jobs and inject cash into our declining economy.

On Moloka‘i, the governor’s list includes thirty-five projects, ranging from termite tenting at Kaunakakai Elementary ($6,000) to improvements at the Moloka‘i Airport’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Station ($6.3 million). Twenty-eight of those projects involve educational facilities, including repairs and renovations. Total estimated construction costs: $25.9 million.

Increasing government spending to help drive an economy in distress is a tried and true strategy. FDR used it to help move the US economy during the Great Depression and President-elect Barack Obama continues to support government CIP spending at the federal level as a way of softening the impact of our nation’s current economic downturn.

So it’s pretty hard to argue with the governor’s proposals here on Moloka‘i, considering that we should see both a strengthened economy and improved school facilities when the day is done. Still, now that some time has passed since the initial announcement, we can take some time to look more closely at the details.

First, while we are all grateful to Governor Lingle for taking the initiative to get these projects moving, it’s important that the public realize that each first had to make its way through the budget process. In other words, each of these projects represents many hours of legislative work in reviewing proposals, determining policies, and setting priorities. And, since once a project makes it into the budget it falls within the governor’s authority to release the funds, her current decision to move these projects ahead can equally be seen as her deciding not to hold them up any longer.

In short, it would have been nice if Governor Lingle had acknowledged the work that had been done by others to get us to this point as loudly as she touted her administration’s work in releasing the money.

In addition, while it is the governor’s job to consider the state as a whole, it is my job to focus on my district. Yes, we will enjoy benefits from the spending, but how much of the money will end up in the pockets of our residents?

Moloka‘i needs jobs. I would like to see a real effort made to ensure that these twenty-eight projects mean employment for Moloka‘i residents, rather than other people coming to the island just to do the work. If the demand for labor exceeds our capacity, or if a job calls for specialized skills, no one will complain that someone from Maui or Honolulu does the work. But all else being equal, I hope we can count on a lot of Moloka‘i residents getting up early and going to a job site.

Yes, in the end the Lingle administration does deserve credit for finding ways to help our economy. Let’s keep reminding them that there are ways to help down at the community level too.

Investing in ourselves

Monday, December 15th, 2008

A recent article in one of our statewide daily newspapers featured three Molokai businesses that are using photovoltaic systems to reduce their electric bills. The Friendly Market Center, Kamoi Snack-N-Go, and Molokai Drugs each installed sunlight-powered electrical systems that have reduced their consumption of electricity by up to ninety percent.

One challenge is that while the electricity the system generates is essentially free, the system itself is not. The Friendly Market system, for example, cost about $700,000 for an 81.2 kilowatt system. Even with a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant paying a quarter of the system’s cost, and with state and federal tax credits offsetting more of the investment, it is a substantial amount of money. Friendly Market expects the system to pay for itself in about four and a half years, so there is a payoff in sight down the road.

The “glass-half-empty” way of looking at the example these three businesses are helping to set may be that free electricity is not really free, and unless you can find a few government agencies willing to split the cost, the point where the initial investment begins to provide a real savings is pretty far into your future. However, I don’t think that view provides the most accurate picture.

The fact is that there are programs available to help defray the cost of alternative energy systems, and I am thankful that we have neighbors who are willing to make a commitment to the long term. You may recall that a few weeks ago, I wrote about how critics of a proposed wind farm and statewide power distribution system said that single-home photovoltaic systems were a better alternative energy investment. In that case, my position was, okay, but how would everyone pay for it?

The point is that there is no single alternative energy solution for every need in our community. We cannot look at alternative energy the same way we look at the existing electrical grid: a single source providing every kilowatt we need to fulfill our energy requirements. Instead, each of us must consider what our total consumption is likely to be, and ask what approach will best serve those needs.

Friendly Market, Kamoi Snack-N-Go, and Molokai Drugs deserve credit for making an investment of time and money. At the same time, everyone in the community should thank them for taking action that will eventually provide secondary benefits far beyond what is immediately apparent.

One challenge of our dependence on fossil fuels is the fluctuation in cost. While oil prices are now moving lower, we all know they will rise again. The stability offered by alternative energy will also help these businesses keep their prices down, particularly once the systems themselves are paid for. That’s a benefit we will all enjoy.

I am committed to continuing my support for the spread of alternative energy in our community, and ensuring that the widest range of options will be available. I also hope all of us will continue to ask what more we can do individually to help us all.