Anahola biofuel proposal rejected

SOURCE: Hope Kallai (lokahipath2@live.com)
SUBHEAD: Hawaiian Homes Commission rejects Anahola Green Energy Project because of  overwhelming opposition by community.

By Darrell T. Young on 28 June 2013 for DHHL in Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2013/06/anahola-biofuel-proposal-rejected.html)


Image above: Detail of photo of Anahola mountains looking north. From (http://www.hawaiianphotos.net/kauai_tour_photos_2.htm).

The Hawaiian Homes Commission rejected a proposal today by Green Energy Team, LLC, to lease 2,134 acres of Hawaiian home lands in Anahola for its proposed Anahola Renewable Energy Project.The 3-5 vote comes after two days of public feedback on the project, with 80 percent of testimony in opposition.

"While there were merits to the project, there were also a number of concerns that remained unresolved. I am encouraged that several in the Anahola community wanted a chance to be a part of the ultimate goal of getting these lands ready for homesteading. They want a chance to have their voices heard," said Jobie Masagatani, Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and Director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), "We look forward to working closely with the people of Anahola to explore ideas on the future use of these lands."

As proposed, the 20-year lease would have allowed Green Energy to clear existing albizia trees from DHHL's Anahola lands and establish a tree plantation to fuel Green Energy's $90-million biomass-to-energy facility in Kōloa.

In return, DHHL would have received monetary and other benefits, including improvements to Anahola lands.

Voting for the majority were Commissioners Perry Artates, Leimana DaMate, Gene Ross Davis, Renwick "Uncle Joe" Tassill, and Chair Masagatani.Commissioners Jeremy "Kama" Hopkins, Ian Lee Loy, and Michael Kahikina voted in support of the project.


CONTACT:
Darrell T. Young
Deputy to the Chair
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
(808) 620-9510
Darrell.T.Young@hawaii.gov

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Anahola Biofuel Plan back again 6/19/13
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaiians spurn "Green" Energy 3/11/13


.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Ok, Anahola can say "No". Now what?

Juan Wilson said...

Aloha Anonymous,

What go you think should happen in Anahola? Give us your name if you can.

Juan Wilson
IB Publisher

Post a Comment