Happy Independence Day!
250 years ago, the colonies declared independence from a foreign power that controlled their trade and future. Hawaiʻi has a chance to declare a different kind of independence: from the imported oil that subjects us to supply chain risks, pricing volatility, and high energy costs.
Over 80 percent of all the energy Hawaiʻi uses for electricity, ground transportation, and air travel comes from imported fossil fuels. We are the most exposed state to this level of energy dependence, and every dollar we spend on that fuel leaves our economy and places us at the mercy of markets we don't control.
We can fix this with locally produced power paired with fossil-fuel-free transportation.
Solar and wind are abundant, and geothermal promises clean baseload power. They generate needed power and shield us from energy markets thousands of miles away. Every kilowatt-hour we generate locally is a kilowatt-hour we don't import; it also represents money that we don’t export.
Electric vehicles (EVs) complete the solution. They are charged on using electricity we make, not gasoline or diesel. As our grid transitions to 100% renewable and our transportation system to electricity, we reduce our dependence on ships bearing oil.
I've driven an EV since 2011, and I’ve not had to deal with gas price spikes when oil markets get disrupted. I'm also a veteran, and I'm proud to support the Electrification Coalition's Veterans for EVs campaign. Oil dependence is a national security issue, and veterans know that better than most.
The U.S. spends over $80 billion a year to protect oil infrastructure and transit routes worldwide. This is money and lives spent keeping the gas pumps running. Veterans for EVs makes the case that shifting to electric transportation would strengthen national security while creating American jobs and stabilizing fuel prices.
No state has more to gain from EVs than Hawaiʻi. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal are already displacing imported oil on the grid. Every charger installed and every driver who plugs in instead of filling up at the pump is a step closer to energy independence.
This Fourth of July, that's worth celebrating. And worth finishing.
Support the Electrification Coalition's Veterans for EVs campaign hereelectrificationcoalition.org/veterans-for-evs
Kauai EV Ambassador, Steve Parsons, and I are featured in this year’s campaign. Check out our quotes and those of veterans across the nation in the following gallery.
