A Tale of Two Futures:
The Choice Is Ours
As we celebrate Independence Day this weekend, we hope you will support our Two Futures campaign to move our state toward more energy independence. Hawaii is at a crossroads, and we have a choice to determine what kind of energy future we want.
Do we stick with the status quo and our continued Dependence on Oil? This will lead to more climate change, sea level rise and ocean acidification. Or do we pursue Energy Independence and clean renewable sources like solar, wind and biofuels? This path will lead to less climate change, a more stable economy and a healthier environment.
Hawaii is particularly vulnerable because the state is the most dependent on fossil fuels and has the highest utility rates in the country (more than three times the national average). The state consumes 5 million gallons of oil everyday, while spending $5-7 billion a year on imported fossil fuels.
On April 28th, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a strong condemnation of HECO's failure to plan a better transition to clean energy. Saying the existing plan was "not in the public interest," the PUC set a deadline of Aug. 26th for HECO to redesign a realistic strategy to decrease the use of dirty, expensive fossil fuels and allow for more clean, renewable energy.
To kick off the countdown, the Surfrider Foundation and a coalition of groups has joined the PUC in demanding HECO to come up with a better energy plan. We also came up with a provocative poster and campaign called “A Tale of Two Futures: The Choice Is Ours.”
The graphic images show the stark contrasts between our existing “Dependence on Oil” (featuring world champion bodysurfer Mark Cunningham) and our potential for “Energy Dependence” (featuring world longboard champion Kelia Moniz).
What kind of future do you want to leave for your kids and what will you do to change our current course? The choice really is ours if we demand it. As Gandhi once said, “When the people lead, the leaders will follow.”
Learn more and sign the petition at: www.hawaiitwofutures.com
