Editor's note: This article was written for The Advertiser by Robin Kaye on behalf of himself and 32 other Lana'i residents who have signed it. All the names can be found with the article online at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion.

The Honolulu Advertiser published a front-page article July 3 detailing the vision of Castle and Cooke's David Murdock for a Lana'i-based wind farm, in which he urged Gov. Linda Lingle to declare an "energy cost" emergency for the state. But why take this unusual step, one normally reserved for hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters?

No one would dispute the fact that Hawai'i has depended on imported oil for much too long, and measures to break this addiction are not only laudable but essential for Hawai'i's people and economy. Indeed, many think our state should be the poster child for sustainable energy, located as we are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by the three major resources currently being heralded as panaceas for reducing fossil-fuel energy dependence: wind, sun and ocean.

And so Mr. Murdock, who through C&C holds a 98 percent property interest in the island of Lana'i, sought to "fast track" his huge wind farm project on Lana'i's north end through House Bill 2863 and is now capitalizing on everyone's energy anxiety by asking the state to declare an energy emergency.

As initially drafted, HB 2863 would have removed opportunity for public comment and input, and would have forced the Hawaiian Electric Co. into a power-purchase agreement that would have exclusively benefited the island of O'ahu. Now, by seeking an emergency declaration, he continues to attempt to usurp laws and other important review by the public.

Those of us who live on Lana'i know he has picked the most obvious place — the winds are typically very strong on the north end of the island, but is it a good site for such a wind farm? Well, that is being studied right now. Will it harm the environment out there? That too is currently being investigated.

But there is a bigger question that is not being answered: How will Lana'i residents benefit from this wind farm?

In all of C&C's previous communications to Lana'i residents, Lana'i is simply the site being used to lower O'ahu's oil dependence. There is no plan at all for any of this wind energy to be utilized on Lana'i to help ease its extraordinarily high electric rates or oil dependence.

The Advertiser article indicated that C&C signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy and HECO to "help produce 70 to 100 percent of Lana'i's electricity through wind power." This is contrary to every comment or written plan shared by C&C thus far with Lana'i residents.

The wind farm's proposed location was described as a "remote part of Lana'i." But this area has stunning view planes, numerous cultural sites and is a major resource for sustainable hunting.

For many years Lana'i residents have supplemented their income by feeding their families with deer culled from the area — right in the midst of the proposed site. Along with high fuel prices, Lana'i residents have extremely high food prices, as nearly all food is barged or air-freighted to Lana'i. Hunting and fishing are not only a way of life on Lana'i but literally puts food on the table for many families.

Mr. Murdock noted that he and C&C will enjoy great benefit from his planned wind farm, but that he also wants to provide consumers on Lana'i and O'ahu with energy-cost relief: "I'm fighting for all the people of Hawai'i," he states. Perhaps this project will benefit all those to whom he refers, but he has yet to provide any evidence of how cost-effective this project with its undersea cable will be. And, we all should be concerned because it is taxpayers and utility ratepayers who will eventually foot the bill.

Those of us who are asking questions want to make it clear that this is not another case of NIMBY (not in my back yard) but one of proving to us, the residents of Lana'i, that the massive incursion onto our landscape can result in tangible benefits for our community as well.

C&C talks frequently about making Lana'i a green island. Clearly, this powerful wind farm is a giant step toward a green island — but it's not any progress toward making Lana'i a green island. Perhaps Mr. Murdock and C&C would be more credible if they practiced energy conservation for Lana'i.

There are many areas where renewable energy and energy efficiency could be implemented in existing projects. For example, why not allow (rather than restrict) tenants in C&C-controlled rental units to dry clothes in the sun rather than in energy-consuming dryers?

Except for one privately built home, no solar water heating systems have been installed in any of the Manele projects, the hottest and driest area on the island. There are no solar water heating systems in any of their new home construction in Lana'i City. The upcountry Koele Lodge has a new air-conditioning system but many times both the AC and fireplace seem to be operating at the same time.

Lana'i can be on its the way to 100 percent renewable energy, but C&C seem to have overlooked some fairly simple pieces of the solution in favor of high-profile projects.

In short, Lana'i residents can wholeheartedly support C&C's efforts to make Lana'i a green island while reducing dependency in other areas of the state. But let's be clear — making Lana'i a green island does not necessarily begin by making O'ahu less oil-dependent while running over or ignoring the concerns of Lana'i residents.

Lana'i residents who co-signed this commentary:

Pam Alconcel

Brandy Baltazar

Lettie Castillo

Lori Cornish

Gloria Del Rosario

Melinda and Alan Emmel

Larry and Darlene Endrina

Martha and Andy Evans

Robin Fancy

Butch Gima

Pua Kanno

Donovan Kealoha

Max and Val Kincaid

Matt and Laura Mano

Ron and Phyllis McComber

Albert Morita

Pierce Myers

Kay and Roy Okamoto

John Ornellas

Warren Osako

Brad and Chiyoshi Oshiro

Joana Varawa

JoAnn Young

Beverly Zigmond

Robin Kaye is a longtime resident of Lana'i and author of the photographic documentary book "Lanai Folks."