Have you bought any gas lately?

[Durian Fiend]

A friend at Alaska/Hawaiian air says the price of Jet A has gone from $2.50 at beginning of the year to $5 now.

[ironyak]

Just quickly on solar, studies are showing the panels still being useful, around 80% of initial capacity, after the usual 30 year period cited as their "lifespan". Personally I have a couple panels manufactured in 1994 that get moved around to various outbuildings as needed to handle keeping batteries topped off for pumps and what not so they're still providing free electrons past their (Energy Returned on Energy Invested) breakeven point.

As for land use, many places are recognizing how to combine solar with agriculture via agrivoltaics that utilize proper spacing and height of the panels to create water collection and shade areas as desired. Could turn Kona side into full goat paradise and drought tolerant solarpunk oasis by collecting rain /condensation off the panels and distributing it wisely.

While geothermal is fine and dandy, the problem is that as it has been practiced by PGV and HECO here, it still creates fat cats in the middle trying to maximize profits from the end user. Combine this with the constant under-performace and occasional EPA fines for PGV and the always reliable downing of lines and slow rolling integrating other power sources into HECO's grid, the Big Island geothermal and distribution system isn't doing great on providing an affordable and reliable source of power.

Now if you're talking about doing a coop like Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative, which at 51% renewable is outpacing HECO on the move to renewables, then we might find some consensus on the solution set. Seize the Means of electrical Production to provide Power to the People - sign me up! :)

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Imagine the financial burden removed from everyone on our island once the investments are made.


Yes.
Everything shipped by air interisland is going to cost more.  From Aloha Air Cargo:

In keeping with our process of providing customers with advance notification, please be advised of the following fuel rates:

Hawaii Interisland: Effective April 1, 2026, fuel rates will increase to $0.20 per pound (increase).

For more information on fuel surcharge revisions please visit the Aloha Air Cargo website at:  http://www.alohaaircargo.com/fuel-surcharge/

[Durian Fiend]

Imagine the financial burden removed from everyone on our island once the investments are made.


Yes.
Everything shipped by air interisland is going to cost more.  From Aloha Air Cargo:

In keeping with our process of providing customers with advance notification, please be advised of the following fuel rates:

Hawaii Interisland: Effective April 1, 2026, fuel rates will increase to $0.20 per pound (increase).

For more information on fuel surcharge revisions please visit the Aloha Air Cargo website at:  http://www.alohaaircargo.com/fuel-surcharge/

If these gas prices stay up for long we will be hurting here. Hawaii is so economically dependent upon oil powered transportation

[leilanidude]

While geothermal is fine and dandy, the problem is that as it has been practiced by PGV and HECO here, it still creates fat cats in the middle trying to maximize profits from the end user. Combine this with the constant under-performace and occasional EPA fines for PGV and the always reliable downing of lines and slow rolling integrating other power sources into HECO's grid, the Big Island geothermal and distribution system isn't doing great on providing an affordable and reliable source of power.
----------------
PGV has been hampered by the PUC's "avoided cost of oil" nonsense. PGV has offered to sell at under 10 cents per kWh to HELCO. Lots of reasons why...

[TomK]

I would hope that people here understand that if oil prices increase, everything else becomes more expensive. You can complain all you want about gas prices when you fill up your car. Most feel that pain, and it's obvious. That gasoline came from a tanker and took ages to get here, and that tanker almost certainly ran on gas, or some derivative of oil. Gasoline doesn't come out of the ground on its own; it has to be refined. 

Now the tanker that brings oil to Hawaii has to use more expensive oil because the supply is threatened, and the oil it brings is already more expensive, so the cost is passed on to the customer. With Hawaii being so reliant on oil-fueled electricity, our prices increase. Not just cars, any industry that uses electricity will have to increase prices, including your local store.

Why PGV isn't simply allowed to supply power at cost to offset the expense of using oil, including the damage burning oil does to our environment, is beyond me.

[HiloJulie]

...brings oil to Hawaii has to use more expensive oil because the supply is threatened, and the oil it brings is already more expensive, so the cost is passed on to the customer. 

And yet, the oil supply that is now threatened today, if it had not been threatened in the first place, would take 3 to 5 months of being shipped, refined and delivered to the Kurtistown Union 76 gas station, yet the price increase is immediately felt by all.

Go figure.

But as was said, "When oil prices go up, we make a lot of money." Just depends on who that "we" is I guess.

[randomq]

Just FYI Kurtistown 76 is still $0.30+ more expensive than other stations. Call or write them and let them know how much we appreciate that!

[Punatang]

Anyone got any ideas?

Plant seeds now.  Today.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Kurtistown 76 is still $0.30+ more expensive than other stations.

For a comparison of Puna gas stations that raise prices 5-6 months before the higher priced fuels (commodity futures prices) actually reach Hawaii Island, Japan with no domestic oil supplies, a country entirely dependent on outside sources of petroleum, is in the process of releasing their reserves with the stipulation that all gas stations hold prices at pre-Iran conflict prices.  They also operate under a capitalist system like we do.