TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT OIL--State Sen. Lorraine Inouye met with leading energy expert Rinaldo Brutoco to discuss reducing our dependence on foreign oil and developing cleaner energy alternatives. They try out a plug-in electric car that could be part of our oil-free future.
Reducing Dependence On Foreign Oil, Creating New Jobs
State Sen. Lorraine Rodero Inouye met with Rinaldo Brutoco, president
of the World Business Academy, to discuss her innovative energy platform
and commitment to renewable energy.
Mr. Brutoco is a leading energy expert and co-author of Freedom
From Mid-East Oil. He and Sen. Inouye agreed that vehicles
powered with electricity generated from wind or solar energy sources are
critical to our energy independence because 70 percent of U.S. imported
oil is used for transportation. To reduce our dependence on foreign oil,
electricity can be generated from wind or the solar energy to power plug-in
vehicles, rather than using oil or coal.
They also agree that Hawai'i Island could become a world leader in producing
hydrogen using geothermal and wind energy. The Hawai'i Natural Energy Institute
already is working on a pilot project using hydrogen in buses.
"Our goal is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce pollution
and create hundreds of new jobs through a new 'green economy," Sen.
Inouye said.
"Geothermal energy is increasingly becoming recognized as a reliable,
inexpensive source of power that can be produced throughout much of the
United States," she said.
"I have always supported geothermal energy, and now our Hawai'i Island
can be a model for new geothermal energy technology, she added.
"We can do our part to fight climate change and improve our economy
by making a commitment to develop, clean, energy alternative such as wind,
solar, hydro and geothermal," Sen. Inouye said.