Maui Energy Conference 2015

During the Maui Energy Conference, Maui-Tomorrow director, Irene Bowie and Pacific Biodiesel’s Kelly King participated in a panel discussion.  While agreeing on the need for more outreach and education for the community, Bowie said private companies, including the utility, have not always been transparent even when they do present their

Water and Land Committee recommends not to confirm Carleton Ching to DLNR chair

The state senate committee recommended against confirming Castle & Cooke lobbyist Carleton Ching to chair the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  In this position Ching, who is on leave from his position with the Big Five developer, would also chair the Water Commission if confirmed. You can read the WTL

After years of waiting, East Maui hui’s case finally being heard

From: OHA KAHULUI (Mar. 2, 2015) — Today, the State Commission on Water Resource Management (Water Commission) will re-engage a case that’s been languishing for years. It involves ʻohana from Honopou to Wailuanui in East Maui who have been farming kalo for centuries. The law is on their side, yet compliance with the

Henry Curtis asks, “Are Anaergia’s Waste-to-Energy Projects on Maui in Trouble?”

Henry Curtis posted this on Ililani Media Over the past year I have blogged about Anaergia. The company is a global leader in the waste-to-energy sector. Maui County and Anaegia worked out a deal whereby Anaergia would allegedly increase recycling at the Central Maui Landfill. Existing companies such as Pacific Biodiesel could be negatively impacted.

NextEra to build huge windfarm at Kahikinui

According to Pacific Business News  NextEra who is buying Hawaiian Electric Co. for $4.3 billion, is planning to build a 120+ MW windfarm on 500 acres of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands at the Kahikinui homesteadvia 35 year lease. It will be built, owned and operated by NextEra.

MECO proposes decrease to amount they’re willing to give rooftop solar owners

On January 20th, MECO and the other Hawaiian Electric companies filed a proposal with the Hawaii PUC that would affect how distributed generation is interconnected and valued.  In theory these changes also affect small wind turbines, but on Maui distributed generation is 95% or more solar pv.  This new proposal

State Paying for Ma’alaea Lot

From HawaiiNewsNow: “But for the past 20 years, the 1.1-acre dirt lot has remained undeveloped with Hawaii taxpayers footing the bill. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has paid more than $7 million — or about $1,000 a day — to lease the property that’s only used to

NextEra to buy HEI (HECO’s parent)

NextEra, parent of Florida Power and Light, is buying HECO/MECO’s parent company HEI. The deal requires PUC and federal approval. They’ll spin off American Savings. NextEra wants to create the controversial interisland cable and create large solar and wind installations. NextEra has nuclear holdings. Nextera owns Florida Power & Light

Judge Kurran Strikes Down Big Island GMO Ban

Note: This is the same judge who killed the Kaua’i pesticide ordinance. Press Release from the Center for Food Safety: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/3628/chemical-corporations-undermine-the-will-of-the-people-of-hawaii-county# Chemical Corporations Undermine the Will of the People of Hawai`i County (Honolulu, HI, November 26, 2014) – U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren today ruled Hawai`i County Ordinance 13-121 invalid

$25 Million GMO and Pesticide Safety Study Launched in London

The World’s Largest Study on GMO and Pesticide Safety was launched by Factor GMO in London, UK on Tuesday. The $ 25 million ‘Factor GMO’ study will investigate the health effects of a genetically modified (GMO) crop that has been in our food and animal feed supplies for many years.