Bag Fee Bill Advances to Conference

SB 1363 Plastic Bag Fee – The House and Senate Conferees have been assigned. Because the Senate and House versions of this bill differ, representatives may be inclined to feel differently than they did before. Everyone on the Conference Committee previously voted “aye”, but many with reservations. When a legislator

Maui Resident Uses Only Solar Power

“Jason King’s solar-powered home is perched amidst his manicured lawn and gardens. Atop his luxury hale are 23 solar panels that power his entire life. With a dual Outback inverter and 24-count battery bank, it’s a robust system that King says, “powers my car, phat sound system, home movie theater,

Kehalani Development Waiting for Approval of Plan Changes

Developer Stanford Carr plans to build the mixed-use Kehalani Village Center slated to add 200,000 square feet of Wailuku commercial space.  The plan was approved ten years ago as part of the Kehalani overall development where about half (1,200) houses have already been built. The planning Department will have to

SB120 to Take Money from Land Conservation Fund

SB120, f passed would reduce the distribution of a portion of the conveyance tax to the Land Conservation Fund. Argument in favor: The State needs money. Argument against: Frequently it’s assumed that environmental protection is a luxury, expendable in times of economic distress. This is false. The funds designated to

HB 1520 Will Help Residents Install Solar

House Bill 1520 requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider implementing on-bill financing that would allow residents to pay off clean energy purchases — like solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels — directly on their electric bill. This could really speed the uptake of clean energy by eliminating the need

Maui’s Water Resources: A General Overview

Researched and Written by Lucienne de Naie and Marty McMahon, M.A. with assistance from Bobby Becker and Terry Reim Summary of Research conducted by Maui Tomorrow’s Ka Waiola Project 2002-2004 Made possible with support from Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Inc Hawaii Community Foundation, Tides Foundation, Patagonia Foundation, the County of Maui

NY Times Writes About Lana’i & Moloka’i Wind Projects

“The official name given by the state government is the “Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program — Wind.” The state’s dominant utility, Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. (HECO), prefers the more neutral “Interisland Wind.” Some critics call it the “Oahu Industrial Wind Power Plant on Lanai.” Still others know it simply as

Concerns Expressed About Auwahi Wind Farm

Sempra Generation and Ulupalakua Ranch reps held a public meeting on the proposed Auwahi Wind Farm and transmission line slated for the area above La Perouse. The project will use 15 430 feet high turbines are intended to generate 22MW daily which is expected to supply from 6-10% of Maui’s

P.A.T.H. Asks County for List of Public Right of Ways

Members of Public Access Trails of Hawaii appealed Tuesday to Mayor Alan Arakawa to provide an inventory of county roads, trails and accesses for public use. Arakawa said the county could produce a list of public roads and trails, but it also would need to include rules and warnings about

Big Wind = Big Money

Henry Curtis’ take on the interisland electric cable, the proposed windfarms and history of the existing Maui Windfarm: Disappearednews.coml