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CI Times Weekly | Current Issue 262 | 04 August 2008

Big crowd at energy meeting

Businesses are feeling the effects of the soaring prices in fuel and resultant rise in the cost of energy if the large turnout at the first of the public Alternative Energy meeting is anything to go by.
The rising cost of energy with our country spending some $16 million annually in petrol and diesel, not including the fuel costs for power generation at TAU.
These costs have an impact on the community some of whom may choose to leave our shores and the adverse effects on businesses from the rising costs and loss of customer base.
‘There needs to be a process as much as a policy and the answers much make economic sense and we need to move fast,” according to the Energy spokesman.
James Beer delivered the presentation on behalf of the Energy committee and surprised everyone by suggesting that the Cook Islands should aim at self sufficiency in generating our own power.
This could be achieved through using nature’s gifts with energy from the sun for solar power and from the air through wind generation. Fuel prices are bound to go even higher and so they suggest adopting a the approach where it is ‘best to assume the worst’ and just get on with it rather than waiting for Government or donors or anybody other than ourselves to come along and assist us. If we get any assistance through subsidies or tax incentives, well and good, but we need to get on with things now.
The comments from the floor include one businessman who is paying $1000 per month for his electricity, and that is prior to the increase in price that TAU has announced. Another said he had installed solar power in his home at great expense but expected to recoup the costs within three and half years.
Yet another is part of an experiment to check the feasibility of generating one’s own energy and then feeding back any excess electricity on to the grid.
James Beer said it was important that we did not start making wrong decisions out of desperation saying that government, businesses and citizens need to cooperate in order to come up with the answers.
The committee have some policy drafts and want ‘high visibility actions to help build momentum for public confidence’. This includes the Kiikii wind powered generators and encouraging those who can do so to install solar power generators in their homes and businesses.
They want the public to consider being in a situation where they can sell power back to Te Aponga if they generate power excess to their own needs but that is another story.
He did not want to go down the road of France that used to enjoy cheap power from nuclear stations but the honeymoon has come to an end as there is a huge problem of getting rid of the nuclear waste and nowhere to put it. Electricity prices have soared and French citizens are protesting and have disconnected their businesses from the electricity grid and have installed wind power and turbines and some have even sent bills to the French government in protest!
The committee have invited the public to email any suggestions, comments or objections to them on: Punanga@energy.gov.ck or by post to PO Box 129 Rarotonga.
Energy committee members at the meeting were: Mata Nooroa, James Beer, Tangi Tereapii, Fletcher Melvin, Aukino Tairea with support from Apii Timoti from TAU.