How to solve energy
By Afshan Subohi
IT is amazing to learn how leading nations map their future and vigorously follow their plans through. It must be precisely this art of developing a consensus around the best solutions by taking all stakeholders on board, cutting right across party loyalties, that actually keeps them ahead of others.
While the energy deficit threatens to jam the slow moving wheels of the economy in Pakistan, Hawaii, which currently depends on fossil fuel for over 90 per cent of its total energy needs, aspires to go green over the next two decades.
Over 2000 miles away from the nearest land mass, scenic Hawaii, comprising several volcanic islands, was introduced to the better part of the world when Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
In an interaction with a group of journalists in Honolulu, Governor Linda Lingle, a Republican leading a state where 45 out of 51 legislators are Democrats, was confident that Hawaii was all set to reduce its dependence on oil before anyone else in the world.
We have the highest electricity and gas prices in the US. We launched the Hawaii Clean Initiative in 2008 and by 2030 intend to get all energy from renewable alternatives. We are already ahead of our targets we set to achieve, Linda, who cuts out to be a presidential material and leaves one wondering over the choice of Sarah Palin over her by John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate during last presidential elections, told journalists in her office in Honolulu.
Responding to a question from Dawn how she was able to ride through with the initiative when partisan divide is not in her favour, she admitted that the federal government brokered the deal. They acted as honest brokers. I believe they saw us as living lab to test energy options.
With volatility in global oil market everyone from the islands (Democrats and Republicans) understood that it was absolutely necessary for the energy security of Hawaii to look for more sustainable options. We are currently looking at wind, solar and biofuels, she said.
Does it matter for Pakistan what a small state (Hawaii) of a big country (US) does at the other end of the world?
May be it does. The hefty oil bill has been a drain on Pakistans foreign exchange reserves. Excessive dependence on imported fossil fuel makes the country vulnerable to price volatility in global oil market. What it does to environmental sustainability is another grim reality that could on ly be ignored at the nations peril.
May be, we need to look closely at how Hawaiians are going about their clean energy initiative in terms of adjustments they are making in the energy matrix.
It is heartening, however, to note that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has chosen to shun the path opted by his energy minister: making deceptive promises.
The measures announced last week by the prime minister to manage the electricity shortages seem to be a meek move but a more realistic attempt to make the pain manageable by trying to achieve energy efficiency of sorts.
His ten measures to reduce load shedding are as follows:
* No air-conditioning before 11am in government offices; * All shops and commercial centres to close after 8pm except for essential businesses like pharmacy and bakeries etc; * Power of billboards to be cut immediately but their owners can use alternative energy sources, if they must, like solar, etc; * Fifty per cent less lights to be used in all government offices, including PM Secretariat and President House; * Two weekly holidays in government offices to be reviewed by July 31.
* Industries to observe alternate weekly holidays to benefit from lesser electricity load on government holidays; * PEPCO to reduce the supply of electricity to KESC from 650MW to 300MW; * No officer below grade 20 permitted use of air conditioner in office; * Marriage halls to end their function within three hours; * Electricity to be provided to farms during off-peak hours.
The measures would certainly help to an extent in the short-run, if implemented effectively but they would not resolve the energy crisis.
A more serious energy plan that ensures sustainability and energy security is necessary. A pool of motivated energy experts should chart out solutions.The government could create an energy forum with private sector, consumer representatives and members of legislators drawn from all political parties to give the nation a realistic energy roadmap.
The 18th Constitutional Amendment, evolved through a national consensus,is a landmark achievement of the democratic government. It needs to adopt the same strategy in the process of economic planning to create ownership of the society of approved framework of solutions for problems that has kept the economy hostage for so long. Last week, the writer was in Hawaii where she received Mary Morgan Award of Journalism.
it is amazing to learn how leading nations map their fu- ture and vigorously follow their plans through. it must be precisely this art of develop- ing a consensus around the best solutions by taking all stakeholders on board, cutting right across party loyalties, that actually keeps them ahead of others. while the energy deficit threatens to jam the slow moving wheels of the economy in pakistan, hawaii, which currently depends on fossil fuel for over 90 per cent of its total energy needs, aspires to go green over the next two decades. over 2000 miles away from the nearest land mass, scenic hawaii, comprising several volcanic islands, was introduced to the better part of the world when japanese attacked pearl harbour in december 1941. in an interaction with a group of journalists in honolulu, governor linda lingle, a republican leading a state where 45 out of 51 legislators are democrats, was confident that hawaii was all set to reduce its de- pendence on oil before anyone else in the world. we have the highest electricity and gas prices in the us. we launched the hawaii clean initiative in 2008 and by 2030 intend to get all energy from renewable alternatives. we are already ahead of our targets we set to achieve, linda, who cuts out to be a presidential material and leaves one wondering over the choice of sarah palin over her by john mccain, the republican presidential candidate during last presidential elections, told journalists in her of- fice in honolulu. responding to a question from dawn how she was able to ride through with the initiative when par- tisan divide is not in her favour, she admitted that the federal government brokered the deal. they acted as honest brokers. i believe they saw us as living lab to test energy options. with volatility in global oil mar- ket everyone from the islands (democrats and republicans) under- stood that it was absolutely necessary for the energy security of hawaii to look for more sustainable options. we are currently looking at wind, solar and biofuels, she said. does it matter for pakistan what a small state (hawaii) of a big country (us) does at the other end of the world? may be it does. the hefty oil bill has been a drain on pakistans foreign exchange reserves. excessive depend- ence on imported fossil fuel makes the country vulnerable to price vola- tility in global oil market. what it does to environmental sustainability is another grim reality that could on- ly be ignored at the nations peril. may be, we need to look closely at how hawaiians are going about their clean energy initiative in terms of adjustments they are making in the energy matrix. it is heartening, however, to note that prime minister yousuf raza gilani has chosen to shun the path opted by his energy minister: making deceptive promises. the measures announced last week by the prime minister to manage the electricity shortages seem to be a meek move but a more realistic at- tempt to make the pain manageable by trying to achieve energy efficiency of sorts. his ten measures to reduce load shedding are as follows: * no air-conditioning before 11am in government offices; * all shops and commercial centres to close after 8pm except for essential businesses like pharmacy and baker- ies etc; * power of billboards to be cut im- mediately but their owners can use al- ternative energy sources, if they must, like solar, etc; * fifty per cent less lights to be used in all government offices, includ- ing pm secretariat and president house; * two weekly holidays in govern- ment offices to be reviewed by july 31. * industries to observe alternate weekly holidays to benefit from lesser electricity load on government holidays; * pepco to reduce the supply of electricity to kesc from 650mw to 300mw; * no officer below grade 20 permit- ted use of air conditioner in office; * marriage halls to end their func- tion within three hours; * electricity to be provided to farms during off-peak hours. the measures would certainly help to an extent in the short-run, if imple- mented effectively but they would not resolve the energy crisis. a more serious energy plan that en- sures sustainability and energy secur- ity is necessary. a pool of motivated energy experts should chart out solu- tions.the government could create an energy forum with private sector, con- sumer representatives and members of legislators drawn from all political parties to give the nation a realistic energy roadmap. the 18th constitutional amend- ment, evolved through a national con- sensus,is a landmark achievement of the democratic government. it needs to adopt the same strategy in the process of economic planning to cre- ate ownership of the society of ap- proved framework of solutions for problems that has kept the economy hostage for so long. last week, the writer was in hawaii where she received mary morgan award of journalism.
