Save Kauai brings together current information about Kauai and web-based tools that allow you to take action. If we want to affect the future of Kauai in a pono way we must organize and begin implementing solutions, not just fighting the problems.
Aloha 'Aina, Imua Kakou!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
KIUC and Grove Farm 1000 acres farming project
KIUC Under Financial Distress? --
Well, first, I will be posting soon on KIUC and the electricity situation on Kauai. People don't talk about it here in this manner, but I think KIUC and the electricity market on Kauai is entering something just short of a crisis phase, esp. in light of what is happening with global oil prices. Given recent events surrounding KIUC, it almost seems like KIUC is under some sort of financial distress. I want to say that I think Governor Lingle and State DBEDT Director Theodore Liu are exactly right with their recent comments regarding KIUC reported in TGI. I think it is interesting though that neither the Governor nor the Legislature have even mentioned addressing, with legislation and new law, a new framework for the pricing of power from new renewable energy powerplants. The current standard of "avoided cost pricing" at the rate of diesel fuel will not work to foster renewable energy. There has to be some sort of more reasonable "cost plus" basis for pricing the sale of renewable energy. I think this requires the Governor's and Legislature's action.
Grove Farm 1000 Acres Farm? --
Anyway, for now I just wanted to report on the Grove Farm 1000 acre farm. I met a member of one of the families growing taro on that Maha‘ulepu Valley land above Poipu. He said there are only about 10 acres under taro cultivation right now. I asked about any other crops. He said he has only noticed some corn, nothing else. I asked what kind of corn is it. He did not know what I meant, so I asked him is it GMO corn. He did not know.
I thought this was interesting because clearly Grove Farms has not gotten going strong with this 1000 acre garden. Based on other feedback I got, it makes me wonder if this 1000 acre idea might just be part of a larger development idea waiting on new legislation to become law from the Legislature and Governor. I think the 1000 acre farm idea would be a good one if it does not include GMO and if it enables Kauai to ship in little or no fruits and vegetables from other islands and the mainland. With lower transportation costs this should allow for dramatic cost savings to consumers and businesses here on Kauai. Seems like more than 10 acres and corn should have been started by now...
Aloha, Brad