Category Archives: Community

Community, Lowering Electric Rates

‘Your Words Become Your Actions’

Richard Ha writes:

Our Big Island Community Coalition — whose goal is “to make Big Island electricity rates the lowest in the state by emphasizing the use of local resources” — seems to be really making people think in a new way. It’s the right goal at the right time.

Someone who has been reading about our efforts said they make him think of these words of Gandhi’s, which are pretty profound. If these words were a roadmap, we’d be at the “thoughts/words” intersection, and coming up on “actions.”

Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.

                  – Mahatma Gandhi

This is a goal we are setting, and which we plan to meet, solely because it’s the right thing to do. The Big Island Community Coalition doesn’t have a budget, and in fact, we don’t need a budget. This is not about slick P.R. This isn’t P.R. at all. Not having a budget means we are just getting out there and talking to real people.

Join us at www.bigislandcommunitycoalition.com if you’d like to be on our mailing list.
Community, Lowering Electric Rates

There’s Something In The Air

Richard Ha writes:

There’s something really interesting, and different, about what we’re doing now – about this Big Island Community Coalition campaign to make the Big Island’s electric rates the lowest in the state.

When I ask people to write a letter in support, they are saying, “I’m going to send this around to my email list.” In the past when I’ve been involved in campaigns to get something done, people would write an individual letter. Now they are spreading the word far and wide and getting their own contacts involved. They are volunteering to share it with their people.

This is a big difference compared to anything else I’ve been involved with.

The idea of lowering our electric rates, rather than just letting them rise uncontrollably, really resonates with people across all walks of life. Everyone feels we need to do something. I haven’t heard anyone say, “No, we want our electric rates to be higher!”

Articles, Big Island, Community, Lowering Electric Rates, Renewable Energy Sources

‘HELCO & Your Bill: What’s Wrong With This Picture?’

1 Comment

Richard Ha writes:

This Op-Ed piece just ran at Civil Beat, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and West Hawaii Today.

HELCO & YOUR BILL: WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

By Noelani Kalipi 

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is applying to raise Big Island electricity rates by 4.2 percent — shortly after its parent company announced impressive profits that were 70 percent higher than last year.

What’s wrong with this picture?

We — John E.K. Dill, Rockne Freitas, Richard Ha, Wallace Ishibashi, Ku‘ulei Kealoha Cooper, Noelani Kalipi, Ka‘iu Kimura, Robert Lindsey, H.M. “Monty” Richards, Marcia Sakai, Bill Walter — invite you to join our newly formed group, the Big Island Community Coalition. Our mission is “to work together as an island community for the greater good of Hawai‘i Island and its people.”

Our first priority: To make Big Island electricity rates the lowest in the state by emphasizing the use of our ample local resources.

The proposed HELCO rate increase, coming at a time of record profits, does not sit right with us.

We understand the regulatory system, which is rate-based. Our concern is that we continue to see requests for rate increases at the same time that we read about record profits for the utility.

While we understand the fiduciary duty to maximize profits for the shareholders, we believe the utility’s responsibility to the rate payer is just as important. As part of good corporate business, it should benefit both by investing its profits into a sustainable grid.

The Big Island is one of the few places on the planet where we have robust, renewable energy resources that can be harnessed effectively to provide firm, reliable, low cost electricity for our residents.

One example is geothermal, which costs about half the price of oil. We also have solar, wind and hydroelectric. We have resources right here that can both lower our electricity costs and get us off of imported oils.

Lower rates would mean that when the grid needs repairs, or the cost of oil goes up again, it will not be such a punch-in-the-gut to our electric bills.

If HELCO is allowed to raise its rates by the requested 4.2 percent, plus raise rates again via the Aina Koa Pono project, and then the oil price goes up, that would be a triple whammy price hike on your electric bill.

Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has sent a strong message that the county will not support new renewable energy projects — such as Aina Koa Pono, which would add surcharges to every electric customer’s bill — unless they result in cheaper energy. “Unless it has lower rates, we will not support it,” he said recently.

UH-Hilo just had a $5.5 million electric bill — almost $500,000 more than last year — and HELCO’s proposed 4.2 percent rate increase would add another $230,000 to their bill. The same thing is happening at hospitals, hotels and businesses. Farmers’ expenses are going way up, which threatens our food security. Electricity rate increases ripple through every part of our economy. They are already rippling.

People are already struggling with their monthly HELCO bill. Some are having their lights turned off.

As rates continue to increase, more people will leave the grid and fewer will remain to pay for the infrastructure, meaning that those households and businesses that remain (because they cannot afford to get off the grid) will pay even more.

You may think the electric utility is a big powerful entity that you cannot affect, but you can. Pay attention! Show up! Write a letter! Do something! If you leave your name and contact information at www.bigislandcommunitycoalition.com, we will send an occasional email to keep you informed of what’s happening, and how you can help.

‘Nuff already!!

Let’s be clear. This is not about how green the energy is. This is about how much the energy costs. This is not about saving the world. It’s about saving ourselves first, so we are in good condition to help save the world.

We had hoped that HECO would have a balanced approach to solving the problems. There are books written on how corporations can take care of people and the environment as well as their investment. The term is called “triple bottom line.”

From The Triple Bottom Line: How Today’s Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social and Environmental Success – and How You Can Too:

Increasingly, businesses are expected to find ways to be part of the solution to the world’s environmental and social problems. The best companies are finding ways to turn this responsibility into opportunity. We believe that when business and societal interests overlap, everyone wins.

Rising electricity costs are like a regressive tax, where the poor pay a disproportionate amount of their income. Only it’s worse. As the price of oil rises, people who are able to, leave the grid. This leaves a diminishing number of people – those who cannot afford to leave – to pay for the grid.

What’s wrong with this picture?!

Community, Geothermal

Join the Big Island Community Coalition for Lowest Electricity Rates

2 Comments

Richard Ha writes:

The Big Island Community Coalition is determined to make Big Island electricity rates the lowest in the state.

Big Island Community Coalition

After all, we have the best combination of renewable resources here on the Big Island. It will proactively weigh in wherever electricity rates are involved.

The fundamental problem with the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative is that it does not require that the electric utility choose lower cost solutions. It does not take into consideration the rubbah slippah folks.

Two-thirds of our economy is made up of consumer spending. If in place of expensive electricity we had affordable electricity, businesses would grow, farmers would farm and we would not be sending our children to the mainland to look for jobs.

Visit the Big Island Community Coalition website to join the mailing list and support the Big Island Community Coalition’s Priority #1: “Make Big Island electricity rates the lowest in the state by emphasizing the use of local resources.”

Community, Peak Oil

‘Big Island Community Coalition’ for the Island’s & People’s Greater Good

1 Comment

Richard Ha writes:

Did you see yesterday’s Hawaii Tribune-Herald?

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is facing a $5.5 million utility bill, which is an increase of almost $500,000 in just one year – almost completely due to the rise of electricity costs. This shortfall is going to have to come straight out of the university budget.

UH-Hilo utilities cost nearly $5.5M 

By COLIN M. STEWART

Tribune-Herald Staff Writer

…In fiscal year 2011-12, UHH budgeted $5.1 million for its utility costs, with the bulk of that figure being represented by power, said Marcia Sakai, Hilo’s vice chancellor for administrative affairs. 

By spring 2012, the rate of monthly spending had increased such that the school was anticipating a shortfall of approximately $450,000, with anticipated total spending closer to $5.5 million.

…As a result of such jumps in electricity bills, Straney has appointed Sakai as the campus’ sustainability director and charged her with finding ways to cut utility costs and developing an energy management plan, making the university more efficient. He was very up front about his reasons for doing so.

“We’re not being green here. We’re not doing the right thing. This is pure economic necessity,” Straney said. “We’re just doing it to keep the lights on.”

This is exactly what is also happening to families, farmers/ranchers, businesses and everyone else who has a utility bill. 

This is why we have decided to form a coalition. The Big Island Community Coalition’s objective: To work in collaboration for the greater good of Hawai‘i Island and its people.

Our first goal: To make Big Island electricity rates lower than O‘ahu’s rates, which have been 25 percent lower than on the Big Island.

We want to:

  • protect Big Island families from rising electricity rates
  • help Big Island businesses become more competitive in the Oahu market and world wide
  • make the Big Island more food secure
  • become more competitive to the rest of the world as oil prices rise
  • raise our standard of living relative to the rest of the world
  • stop exporting our most precious resource, by having jobs so our children can raise their families on the Big Island
Community, Geothermal, Government

County Council Vote: No Override of Mayor Kenoi’s Geothermal Bills Veto

Richard Ha writes:

The community attended the County Council meeting in force yesterday, many people wearing these buttons:

Buttons

The County Council voted NOT to override Mayor Billy Kenoi’s veto of the geothermal bills 256 & 257. This is the outcome we were hoping for.

The meeting started at 8 a.m. and about 85 people – an amazing number – testified. The meeting went all day and into the evening, and did not adjourn until 8 p.m.

There has been a real change in the dynamics of the geothermal discussion. The people who came from Leilani Estates were so passionate and determined. And they were so rational, and easily understood, and they really impressed me. They changed the tone of the conversation and struck a chord for rational discussion.

They are solid people who work everyday and have families to take care of. They were not involved until they learned this hearing was taking place and they didn’t know a thing about it. When they realized what was happening, it didn’t take any time at all for them to get organized. You could see they were determined to take their community back. It was just great.

And for the first time, Puna Geothermal employees jumped up and spoke up from their point of view, saying things like, “I wouldn’t be working for a company that wasn’t doing the right thing,” and “I’ve worked here for 23 years, and my babies are fine and healthy,” and “We’ve never known anyone at the plant that ever got hurt.”

Others testified, too, people who were not affiliated with either the Leilani Estates group or the Puna Geothermal group. I’d not heard this group join the conversation before. In general, this was a larger geothermal conversation than usual, with a more representative group of Puna folks expressing themselves.

Petra Wiesenbauer, of Leilani Estates, was one of the people involved in getting out the word to the Leilani Estates community (as were Jan Kama and Loren Avedon). Petra attended yesterday’s County Council meeting, and I asked for her take on it:

“We would like to thank everyone for their support and input. Together we were strong. Thank you also to Fred Blas, Don Ikeda, J Yoshimoto and Fresh Onishi, who voted against the override.

“I had expected a circus, but it was civil. I know a lot of the Pahoa folks and the anti-geothermal people. For the most part, we could look each other in the eye. I had several people that I talked to and we agreed that it was okay to have different opinions, and the main thing is that we respect each other as people.  

“I am very relieved that we persevered, but I also feel like we need to do some mending in the community. This is where I don’t have this triumphant feeling. The rift from this in the community is quite big and will take some time to mend. There will be big resentments, and this polarization could have been totally avoided, had the council done a better job in drafting/amending these bills. We could have all worked together on this – maybe I am too optimistic, as there are also some real radicals that won’t be reasoned with.

“I feel that most people on our side brought professionalism, common sense and also an urge to put the facts out. Although I am sure the ‘opposition’ would say the same about their position. Overall, I feel that there is work to be done, now that the immediate threat has been removed.

The Big Island Chronicle wrote about the County Council meeting here.

Community, Geothermal, Government

Come Wednesday to Support Veto of Bill 256

Richard Ha writes:
 
Humans are very well-adapted to low levels of hydrogen sulfide. The bacteria that generate hydrogen sulfide live in the human gut. And our volcano generates tons of sulfur dioxide every day. It’s rising electricity rates that are causing real damage to our people.
Here’s an email from those wanting to uphold Mayor Kenoi’s veto of Bill 256. Please come down to the County Council chambers, at the County Building (map of 25 Aupuni St., Hilo here), this Wednesday (August 1, 2012) at 8 a.m. Even if you can only stay for a short time, please come and show your support.

I support these folks that live in the vicinity of the geothermal plant. Here’s their email:

It has been a busy time for all of us in preparation of the final push to up-hold the Mayor’s Veto of Bill 256. This is where we really need your help.
1.   For your information: We had a very good meeting and turn-out on Tuesday night at the Leilani Community Center: hamakuasprings.com/2012/07/very-successful-meeting-on-geothermal-facts.
2.   The county council meeting to override the mayoral veto is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1, 2012. This is where we need as much help as possible.
You can submit written testimony by e-mail up until the day prior to the meeting (it has to be received by Tuesday noon, July 31). Please submit your email testimony to counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
To submit written testimony by e-mail, you can also e-mail each council member individually: 
Dominic Yagong –                  dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
Donald Ikeda –                       dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us
J Yoshimoto –                         jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us
Dennis “Fresh” Onishi –          donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us
Fred Blas –                             fblas@co.hawaii.hi.us 
Brittany Smart –                     bsmart@co.hawaii.hi.us
Brenda Ford –                         bford@co.hawaii.hi.us
Angel Pilago –                        apilago@co.hawaii.hi.us
Pete Hoffmann –                    phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us  
But what we really would like is for as many people as possible to come to the county council meeting in Hilo on August 1, to testify in person and to show our strength in numbers. The council needs to see that we are not just a silent small group, but that there are many of us.  It makes a difference, even if you are able to come for an hour.
When you come to the council meeting, you can read the testimony you submitted by email.  If you have not emailed the testimony, they ask that you bring 14 copies of it and give it to the clerk that day.
The council meeting starts at 8am. Please be early, so we can have good seats and testify early.
When you come to the council meeting room, check in with us at the VETO SUPPORTERS & LEILANI ESTATES signs – look for signs.
Contents of your testimony – some suggestions:
The Mayor asked that we get employees and nearby residents to come out and support his veto, with the primary emphasis that there are no health issues that exist, and that the plant has been operating safely, hence no reason for a buffer zone.  While we hope the veto will  not be overridden, there is still a need for publicizing the fact that long time residents are opposed to the bill for these reasons, and the fact that this is an issue which has been unnecessarily politicized.
As for what to say,  we are not going to write this out, since everyone’s experience is different, but this would be along the lines of their positions on certain issues such as
1.   Where their residence is.
2.   How long they have lived there.
3.   The fact that they have not had health problems they attribute to the plant, and there is no scientific or medical information which supports the creation of a one mile buffer.
4.   That creating a health and safety buffer radius of one mile is unjustified, and creates issues for people who have chosen to live and work in this radius, including concerns about property values.
5.   That this bill will create additional cost for the county in many areas.
6.   That health studies and monitors can be purchased with Asset Fund money without taking from community benefits, under the code and rules which already existed, before Bill 256 and 257.
7.   That until these hearings were held and the manner in which they were held, people did not complain about PGV, and politics and misinformation has created an unwarranted concern.
These are just suggested issues or concerns the vetoed bills raise, and others may have more to say or add.
3.    Please, share this information and request for support with all your friends and people in your networks.

See you there!

Much Aloha and Mahalo Nui Loa,
Petra, Jan & Loren
Community, Geothermal, Peak Oil

Very Successful Meeting on Geothermal Facts

2 Comments

Richard Ha writes:

Approximately 100 people showed up last night at the Leilani Estate Community Center to learn the facts about geothermal energy.

July 2012 030

Some of the testimony – from folks who have worked at the geothermal facility, as well as those who live close by – was especially impactful. 

I took 10 minutes to talk about a danger we are facing: Rising oil prices. If we have sincere dialogue among all the parties, we can start to see that rising oil prices will threaten our social fabric – and most of all, our spirit of aloha. And maybe we can do something about it. But we don’t have the luxury of time.

July 2012 026

Why can’t we, here on the Big Island, have lower electricity rates than O‘ahu? It would lessen pressure on the most vulnerable families, help farmers compete, help businesses create more jobs and prevent the export of our most precious resource – our children.

Mike Kaleikini, Plant Manager of Puna Geothermal Venture, talked about the history of geothermal production, mitigation measures and safety regulations. Mike has a way of explaining complex issues that is easy to understand.

Don Thomas gave a talk about the technical side of the H2S issue, which had a big impact on the audience. Both Mike and Don are very credible, as they have actual, real-life experience and speak about facts that are verifiable.

I would say the crowd was 70 to 30 percent for geothermal. But it isn’t a matter of “us” against “them.” It was the discussion and sharing of information that was most important. At some point, I hope soon, we can come to grips with the larger issues of rising prices, and how we can maximize our resources in a smart and responsible way.

July 2012 030

To cap things off, Mayor Billy Kenoi showed up after the mayoral candidate debate in Pahoa concluded. He did a good job of explaining, in a commonsense way, why there is no need for the council bill. It is redundant and adds problems that are unnecessary.

July 2012 030

All attending were Councilman Fred Blas as well as Representative Faye Hanohano.

Late last night we received a note from Petra Wiesenbauer, Jan Kama and Loren Avedon, who organized the meeting:

Richard, Mike, and Don,

Mahalo for an outstanding presentation tonite to the residents of Leilani Estates and community members.  There were many comments after the meeting that people had a better understanding of how the plant operates and its impact on the community.  Whether or not they understand the difference between H2S and SO2 is questionable, but at least they feel more comfortable knowing that they are not as much at risk as they thought. 

And Petra Wiesenbauer, who lives in and runs a B&B in Leilani Estates, sent along some further comments of her own about the meeting (as well as the photos in this post):

I think it was an extremely good meeting last night. I am so proud of everybody for staying focused and respectful.

Don Thomas was absolutely excellent. It was so good to have him there with all the numbers of emissions, comparisons of different regions and being able to putting things into perspective, i.e., the Volcano blasting out 600 to 1,000 tons of stuff every day. He was able to dismantle some of the myths and clear up rumors and anxieties.

Mike was really, really good, too in making transparent what is going on at the plant and the strict restrictions they are under in regards to their monitoring, their chemicals and general equipment maintenance.

That the Mayor was able to come at the end was an added bonus and gave the whole meeting a great finale.

I talked to Jeff Melrose a little and he said, that they are working on a brochure/informational materials about disaster response/evacuation, safety and other community concerns regarding geothermal development. He is such a great guy as well and so knowledgeable about all the Big Island planning and land dealings. He thought it was the best meeting he has been to in a long time about this whole controversy and he thought it was amazing, that something like that had not been done much earlier.

I give so much credit for the course of the evening to Loren [Avedon], our moderator. He was great and made sure there were no lengthy statements, self indulgence, lamentations and other behaviors from any of the audience that could have been counterproductive to the outcome of the meeting.

 The whole meeting came about as a result of this note that had been sent around about the July 19th County Council meeting:

“There was something odd about today’s County Council meeting…all of us testifying at the Pahoa office were in opposition to the legislation, with the exception of three people.  Apparently the anti-geothermal group had received word that the bills would be postponed for 30 days.”

Those of us who attended the County Council meeting to override the Mayor veto of Bill 256 were prepared for more than 100 folks picketing the County building, and protesting loudly. But no one showed up.

The email back and forth resulted in someone asking me to post their testimony on my blog, which I did. Then on the 22nd, this note was sent around:

 “We would actually love to take you up on your offer to come here and give a talk to interested residents here in Leilani. It would be a good way to also promote the petition http://www.change.org/petitions/hawaii-county-council-petition, and therefore it would be great to do it as soon as possible. We were wondering if you had time on Tuesday at around 6:30pm. If not any other day that is convenient for you just let us know?”

By the next day, I had confirmed that Don Thomas, Wally Ishibashi and Mike Kaleikini would attend. All this happened really quickly.

With only two days notice, 100 people showed up, standing room only. I was amazed.

• Here is a recent Civil Beat article, titled “Arguments Against Geothermal Are ‘Absurdly Elitest,’ Says Scientist.

• You can still sign the Hawaii County Council petition here, which asks:

We humbly ask you to sign our petition before July 30th, 2012 asking the County Council of Hawaii to honor the Mayor’s veto of Bill 256, Draft 2. The bill would allow the County to create a one-mile safety buffer zone around the Puna Geothermal Power Plant. [Read more at the link]

Community, Tomatoes

A Tomato By Any Other Name (Including a Hawaiian One)

1 Comment

We recently shared some tomatoes with the charter school Ke Kula O Nawahiokalaniopu‘u, sometimes known as Nawahi.

Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu is designed for families, teachers and staff who have chosen to speak Hawaiian as the first and main language of the home, and also those who are in the process of establishing Hawaiian as the dominant language of the home. The goal is to develop, enhance and maintain the Hawaiian language through education in the home and school. The purpose of academics and global learning i.e., foreign languages such as English and Japanese, is to develop skills to be applied in the revitalization of the Hawaiian speaking community through economic interaction with the outside world.

HPIM0715

HPIM0715

Afterward, I got this nice note from Jenea Respicio at the school:

Aloha e Richard,

Attached please find some pictures from the distribution of the delicious tomatoes that were so kindly donated by your company today.

We had the cases of tomatoes stored in the school’s walk-in refrigerator and had all of the students, faculty, and staff members meet outside of the lumi `aina (cafeteria) before being dismissed at the end of the day. Everyone expressed their gratitude and as you can see from the photos the kids just could not wait to get eat some of the fresh tomatoes!

Several parents also made sure to come up to me and express their gratitude and asked me why did the kids received such a generous gift. This was my response to both the school and parents who approached me:

“Hamakua Springs is a locally owned and operated family business. The proprietor of Hamakua Springs, Richard Ha, believes in his community and its people and feels that due to the strenuous economic times he just wanted to share the fresh tomatoes with the `ohana of Nawahi to enjoy; as we all know that with a stiff economy most families, unfortunately, are not able to purchase as much fresh vegetables as they would want, and Hamakua Springs just wanted to say mahalo to the local community for their support over the years with a token of fresh tomatoes.”

I hope that my response to the school and parents was satisfactory and if I was incorrect in any aspect I apologize as I was “shooting from the hip” when I was approached.

Nawahi will be sending you a leka (letter) but I wanted to send these pictures on my part. Again, mahalo nui for all that you do for our community.

Mahalo,
Jenea Respicio

HPIM0715

Community, Geothermal, Peak Oil

County Council Geothermal Meeting in Pahoa

1 Comment

Last night the County Council held a meeting in Pahoa regarding geothermal, and hundreds of people attended.

The Pele Defense Fund was scheduled to speak for an hour, but they had at least an hour and a half’s worth of material.

Read about it at the Big Island Chronicle: Puna News – Dispatch of a County Council Geothermal Meeting in Pahoa.

While island-wide these days there is a great deal of support for geothermal, most of the testimony from these people in Pahoa, near the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, was against geothermal for religious and safety reasons.

Clearly, these issues need to be addressed.

Photo

I gave a short testimony in my role as a farmer. I talked about how I am the only person from Hawai‘i to have attended four Peak Oil conferences – because my farm costs were going up, due to the rising price of oil, and I wanted to learn as much as I could to help my farm adapt.

What I’ve learned has been very disturbing. I knew that I needed to transform my farm. But the burden of knowing that the world has been using twice as much oil as it had been finding for the last 20-30 years, and that this was going to continue, became my kuleana. I needed to inform people and also do something about it.

People might not have noticed, but in 2000 the oil price was $25 per barrel, and then it doubled to $50, and by the end of 2011 it was at $100/barrel. This means that the price of oil has doubled every 5.5 years.

If that continues, a family whose electric bill is $300 today can expect that in 5.5 years it will be close to $600/month. And when 11 years has gone by, it might approach $1,200/month.

Our families are struggling today; they will not be able to handle that added burden. They need relief now. We don’t have much time.

I pointed out that geothermal is estimated to cost 10 cents/kWh (according to a 2005 GeotherEx report), compared to electricity generated from oil, which costs more than 20 cents/kWh.

I said that I asked Jim Kauahikaua, Scientist-in-Charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, “How long will the Big Island be over the hot spot?” He replied, “500,000 to a million years.”

I said that we can expect electricity generated from oil, now at 20 cents/kWh, to double to 40 cents in 5.5 years and then to 80 cents/ kWh in 11 years – while geothermal would stay at 10 cents/kWh.

I told them what I asked Carl Bonham, head of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. As oil prices rise, I asked, and if we were to use geothermal as our primary base power, would Hawaii then become more competitive with the rest of the world? He said yes.

My next question to him is close to my heart, because of the effect on the “rubbah slippah folks.”

“Is it fair to say that our standard of living would rise, relative to the rest of the world?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.