—–Original Message—–
From: Walter Cap Havekorst [mailto:cap@hawaiipacificsolar.com] Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 6:33 PM

To: Sen. Mike Gabbard
Cc: All Senators; All Reps
Subject: 582858 Relating to Retail Wheeling – Hearing 2-9-2010

Dear Chair Gabbard,

My name is Walter “Cap” Havekorst and I am a partner of Hawaii Pacific Solar, LLC a developer of Solar Energy Facilities and currently the developer of a minor utility scale solar farm of 2.8MW on the Island of Maui.

I would like to express my support for 582858. This bill supports the objective of becoming an energy independent state. Retail wheeling is a critical mechanism for increasing renewable energy use through the direct sale of renewable energy from non-utility producer to end user. It will also allow the use of non utility needed power for firms that can use the renewable energy and thus allowing it not to be wasted. Allowing retail wheeling will decrease fossil fuel-based energy usage through the integration of wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies.
Inasmuch, this bill will support economic activity in the renewable energy sector, will stabilize the economy against the volatile fossil fuel market, will create a more attractive market for the public by offering alternative energy providers, and will benefit the environment by reducing carbon emissions associated with the importation and burning of fossil fuel in Hawaii.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this important measure.

Mahalo,
Walter “Cap” Havekorst