Letters to the Editor
Not the same
If I wasn’t sure before, I am now: Jerry Coffee has lost his marbles! To compare the use of drones to the FBI killing of a kidnapper is like comparing a marble to a bowling ball. People who are objecting to the use of drones are not objecting only to the killing of U.S. nationals but also to the killing of foreign nationals in their own countries. It was published recently that up until now, 4,700 people have been killed, many of them women and children. The administration has taken it upon itself to be executors without any recourse to the legal system. With every person killed, many anti-U.S. activists are created. What gives the U.S. the right to lord it over all the countries they are interfering with?
And thank you for printing Pat Buchanan’s articles. He has a great understanding of international politics.
Judith Lutfy
Aiea
Keep the refinery
Our Tesoro refinery was originally built to address the high cost of imported fuels, and was very much supported by the people of Hawaii. If Tesoro closes the refinery, Hawaii will be facing higher gas prices again, and we will need to import our fuel from Asia and elsewhere. Asia could increase the cost and decrease the availability of those imports. Tesoro refineries in Washington and California could supply Hawaii with gas, but this could also increase costs.
Currently, Hawaii is self-sufficient in residual fuel, which is used as bunker fuel for powering our ships, and as fuel for the state’s electric power plants. If the state has to import this fuel because of Tesoro’s closure, it will have to pay a premium price. The fuel sells for about $90 per ton premium (about $13 per barrel).
Other costs sensitive to fuel prices also will increase. They include electric power, public transport including airlines, government services and many more. The closing of the refinery will result in a layoff of 250 refinery workers who have good jobs – the cost to the local economy could be 1,750 to 2,500 jobs. Tesoro buys supplies from local businesses and, if the refinery closes, layoffs could result at those companies as well.
If we are trying to grow Hawaii’s economy, it does not make sense to put more than 2,000 citizens out of work in favor of gasoline and products produced overseas. This refinery supplies as much as 70 percent of the fuel needed for military bases in Hawaii, so we’re talking national security.
We understand the importance of renewable energy, but it will take decades for Hawaii to develop renewable fuel sources that are economically viable. In the meantime, the Tesoro refinery can fulfill Hawaii’s energy needs while renewable resources are being developed.
John and Shelley Gibson
Kapolei
