The proposed undersea cable that is supposed to connect Lanai, Molokai, Maui, and Oahu is economic lunacy and larceny. According to the Jan. 4 edition of “;Engineering News Record,”; a most respected publication, the cable and wind farms could eventually cost up to $6 billion and take 10 years to complete. The cable would strengthen Hawaiian Electric's monopoly grids and cost the tax- and ratepayers billions to fund this project. Millions have already been spent on studying the ocean floor, the grid, marketing and more. It seems that none of the parties involved have done the basic math.

The state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) says it can build the cable in six years. It may take years to plan and clear permitting just to start work on the cable. DBEDT is not building the wind farms so it cannot guarantee that the electricity will be ready or even flow through the cable. In any case, the taxpayers and electricity customers will have to pay the bills.

DBEDT handed over management of the initial stages of the project to Hawaiian Electric, including seeking requests for qualified bidders. Hawaiian Electric will be purchasing the electricity with rate payer dollars. This is a conflict of interest. It is important to note that our state electric rates are among the highest in the nation. During the fuel crisis of 2008, Hawaiian Electric rates were almost 190 percent above the national average.

In addition to the conflict of interest, add on to the electric bill billions to build the cable and the costs of purchasing the electricity. Due to conflicts of interest, having Hawaiian Electric handle any part of the bidding for the cable project could also lead to lawsuits.

Additionally, no one has told the people of Hawaii when the wind farms on Lanai and Molokai will be ready. Remember, in years gone by Molokai residents rejected a wind farm even to reduce their own costs. Additional problems will include Hawaiian Electric's costs to upgrade its existing infrastructure to handle the surge. Hawaiian Electric's above-ground utility lines are aging and a huge liability. In spite of billions in profit over the last 20 years, why hasn't Hawaiian Electric buried or updated above-ground utility lines?

There is an alternative to all of this that would save a huge amount of money, provide energy independence, and benefit consumers with cost savings and independence from Hawaiian Electric's archaic grid. The alternative would be to give state homeowners a $7,500 tax credit to install photovoltaic on their roofs. Photovoltaic energy for 200,000 Hawaii homes statewide would result in $1.5 billion in tax credits. Photovoltaic on a grand scale would also result in a huge economic stimulus for small businesses, liberating citizens from a failing and expensive monopoly grid, and dramatically reducing our states woeful dependence on imported petroleum.

We need to say “;No”; to the cable and a resounding “;Yes”; to energy independence, affordability and self-sufficiency.

State Sen. Fred Hemmings, a Republican, represents the 25th Senatorial District.