The energy decisions faced by our community and our COOP are urgent today. Whether it be an electric bill that cannot be paid, or a community that cannot remain fragmented, or even, on the broadest scale, a planet that must change course. We have the need and the opportunity to put these issues firmly on the table, and to address them together. Yes, the actions of our COOP are only a small piece of this. However, the cumulative costs of energy, on a broader scale, urgently need to be addressed by our community. KIUC is in a position to galvanize our Island on the importance of addressing our severe energy dependence with the increased vigor that is much needed.

This urgency is already upon us – we cannot afford the luxury of an incremental solution brought about by the independent actions of our utility COOP. We must dispense with the hope that our energy problems will be solved for us, and instead rally together and solve them collectively. In doing so, our goal should not be to achieve a certain mark by a certain date. Our goal must be to commit ourselves to do all that we can, starting now, to reshape our approach to energy on Kauai. I ask for your vote for the KIUC Board of Directors, and of much greater importance, for your participation in creating a sustainable energy future for Kaua’i.