Editor,

Again a big Mahalo for Matangi Tonga Online, for providing us with this platform in order to express our views in what is happening in our little Island Kingdom.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Honorable 'Akau'ola and the office of the Honorable Prime Minister Sevele for organising the "Tonga Renewable Energy Road Map" that were held in Vava'u this past week. It is satisfying for this one Humble Tongan to see this kind of gathering and especially the discussions of "Renewable Energy Planning" and all the Renewable Energy Innovation that was discussed at the TERM.

Tonga is no different than any other country that are dependent on the "Big Ugly Fossil Fuel" to generate power in each Pacific Island Nation today. Here in Hawaii, we consumed the most amount of fossil fuel "Oil" for power each year, it is in the Billions of Dollars. We even have Legislation that have been passed by our State Legislator that are on the books, to gives "Independent Power Provider" certain Tax Incentives in order to cut down the uses of imported oil by year 2030, by 50-70 percentages. Hawaii is very aggressive in it's giving all sorts of Tax Incentives for the Private Sector in order to provide all kind of New Innovative Technology Systems as alternative to fossil fuel. Well done to the managers of "Tonga Power Limited" for their creative thinking out side the box, it's about time some one knows what they are doing at Tonga Power Limited.

Legislator did set up a $12 million Dollars for a "Hydrogen Funds" start up for "Innovative High Tech Company", and are working very well with new companies giving them start up funds in "Hydrogen Technology", California is way ahead in this in HT. There are several "Solar Farm Companies", "Bio/Fuel" on certain by products natural plants and growing "Algae Farms" are doing well in the Big Island of Hawaii. The State of Hawaii Department of Business and Economic Development Dept, led by my good friend Ted Peck have just appropriate several millions of dollars for a feasibility study on a "Marine Electricity Connection Line" from Maui to 'Oahu.

David Murdock, the owner of the Island of Lana'i and Dole Pine Apple has constructed a "Solar Farm" in the Island of Lana'i. They could all be "Independent Power Provider" in selling their access power to the main Grid of the Main Electric Power Provider in Hawaii "Hawaiian Electric" from their Access Power from their Alternative Energy Solar Systems.

I can go on with several examples of why I am glad that the Tongan Government and people like the Honorable 'Akau'ola are conscious of the importance of "Renewable Energy" and battling the effects of Global Warming and especially in our little Island Kingdom. Congratulations to all at the TRERM and keep up with Innovative thinking on Renewable Energy, Job well done Tonga.

MTTuaileva

mttprod [at] gmail [dot] com