Ron Self, Wood Valley farmer and attorney, asks PUC and HELCO to seek less expensive sources of energy.
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION is asking `Aina Koa Pono to present proposed pricing for biodiesel it would sell to Hawaiian Electric Company over the next 20 years. The biodiesel would be manufactured in a refinery between Pahala and Wood Valley and would be trucked along Hwy 11 to the power plant near Kona Airport to replace fossil fuel. Hawaiian Electric Light Company and Hawaiian Electric Company have asked the PUC to approve the contract as well as the ability to raise rates to pay for the biofuel to cover the contract that would run from 2013 through 2032.
The PUC asks for a comparison of pricing that adjusts for the difference in heat produced by fossil fuel with the projected heat that would be produced by the biodiesel at the power plant. It also asks for the heat-adjusted price to be compared with projected world oil prices. The official U.S. government energy statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show a wide ranging forecast for oil prices over the next 20 years. The EIA projects that by 2032 oil could sell for as low as $50.09 per barrel or as high as $198.36 a barrel, making the projected average $124.28 per barrel. `Aina Koa Pono claims that as prices of fossil fuel rise, its biofuel price could become a bargain, even though the initial price would be higher.
Opponents, including farmer and attorney Ron Self of Wood Valley, contend that the PUC and Hawaiian Electric should be looking for less expensive sources of energy, that do not take agricultural land out of production.
`Aina Koa Pono representatives have been meeting with residents in small groups and attending community group meetings to explain their plan and promise jobs for the community. Tonight, they meet with ‘O Ka’u Kakou. ‘Aina Koa Pono will hold its first public meeting since February on Monday, Sept. 19 at Pahala Community Center at 6:30 p.m.
NO KA`U OR VOLCANO POST OFFICES are at risk of closure in the US Postal Service’s proposed downsizing in Hawai`i. Congresswoman Mazie K. is calling for the public to give its input in community meetings and surveys on closing post offices of Uptown Honolulu, Kapolei on O`ahu, Kalaupapa on Moloka`i, and Hanama`ulu on Kaua`i. Some 3,700 post offices nationwide may close to reduce its ballooning deficit. The USPS recently announced that it is unable to make a $5.5 billion payment into a fund this month, but that services and worker pay would be unaffected for now.
KA`U FARM BUREAU’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING is tonight, Sept. 8 at Pahala Community Center. Special guests include state Sen. Gil Kahele and County Councilmember Brittany Smart. The Bureau will also hold elections of board and officer positions. The event is potluck. For more information, call 929-9550.
Chris Manfredi
THE NOMINATION OF CHRIS MANFREDI for County of Hawai'i Windward Planning Commission is up for confirmation at the County Council Planning Committee meeting today. He was nominate by Mayor Billy Kenoi. If approved by the Planning Committee, the nomination goes before the full County Council for consideration. Manfredi, who serves on numerous community boards, represents a hui that owns 6,000 acres in Ka`u and plans to subdivide the land where most of the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative members have created their farms and produce their award winning coffee. Manfredi said he plans to protect the farmers so they could continue farming around houses that could be built after the coffee estates are sold. Coffee farmers have been invited to today’s council meeting for recognition for their achievements in winning awards for their excellent coffee.
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE will meet next Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Items on the agenda include the introduction of new consultant staff to the committee, a project update by CDP manager and County planner Ron Whitmore, and a discussion on recent community outreach events. Discussion on proposals to the CDP project will not be covered in the meeting.
ARTISTS CAN COMPETE for the cover of the next Ka`u Chamber of Commerce Directory by bringing their art to the Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Artists are to provide the name of the piece, the size, price and artist’s name. Entries are limited to one per person. Art can be in any medium. Three cash prizes will be awarded at the End of Show Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Credit Union from noon to 2 p.m. For more information, call Wanda Aus at 929-9139.
THE KA`U TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM beat St. Joseph Cardinals on Tuesday. The Trojans won 3 of 5 games at St. Joe’s gym in Hilo. The home team started out strong, beating the Trojans in the first game. The Trojans recovered, however, and won the following two and final game.
THE FIRST TROJAN FOOTBALL home game this season is Saturday, Sept. 10, against Hawai`i Preparatory Academy at the Ka`u High School field. Game time is 6 p.m. Ka`u will play volleyball in Kohala at noon on Saturday.
HELCO President Jay Ignacio joined `Aina Koa Pono to explain the proposed refinery project to Pahala residents in January.
`Aina Koa Pono will be back Sept. 19 for another public meeting at the community center. Photo by Julia Neal
NEW `AINA KOA PONO TESTIMONY from the public is posted on the website of the state Public Utilities Commission this week regarding the proposal to build a refinery between Pahala and Wood Valley and a biofuel farm between Wood Valley and Na`alehu, as well as raise electric rates to support the project.
The most recent comments include questions about the cost of making the biofuel. A letter from Ed Wagner, who opposes the project, points to news articles from Europe where the technology was developed. One article says that the oil produced by the microwave processing is similar to raw oil and must be refined –“in the same way as the case with crude oil.” It also says that the catalyst powder used for the process is not exactly cheap and weighs heavily on the expenditure side.
Wagner also states that Marion County Florida rejected a similar project in 2009, concluding that the process was an unproven technology. He encourages the PUC to do the same in Hawai`i.
CHARLENE ON GREEN, a radio, internet and television show on O`ahu, has made a special campaign opposing the `Aina Koa Pono proposal. A letter from its producer to the Public Utilities Commission states that the project will be “a nail in the coffin for energy independence,” as the oil produced would be used to fire up the electric company’s existing power plants rather than incentivizing more geothermal, solar, wind and other alternatives. Charlene on Green asks: “Do you not see” that energy prices in Hawai`i are four times higher than the rest of the nation? “Do you not see the artificial limitations HECO places on residents and businesses who wish to generate their own energy?” How can you vest so much of the interest of this great state to one single entity, the electric company? asks Charlene on Green.
`AINA KOA PONO plans to present its plans to the community group `O Ka`u Kakou tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Aspen Center in Punalu`u. `Aina Koa Pono also hosts a public meeting on Monday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, its first public meeting in Ka`u since February.
OTHER PUBLIC TESTIMONY posted on the Public Utilities Commission docket this week includes a letter from Dr. Dennis Elwell, a retired Stanford University professor who lives in Discovery Harbor. Elwell asks the PUC to look more closely at the cost of electricity that would be produced by using biofuel.
Dr. Dennis Elwell urges PUC to read Scientific American.
“The viability of the proposed biofuel plant in Pahala is an important aspect of the request before you to raise electricity rates to consumers in O`ahu and Hawai`i island. Before you reach a decision on whether to approve the HECO/HELCO request, I urge you to read the review of biofuels in the August 2011 issue of Scientific American. The article, titled Biofuels' False Promise, states that ‘biofuels are still not commercially competitive’ and gives many examples of expensive projects that have failed.
“This conclusion, from a highly respected magazine with no motivation to misrepresent the facts, agrees with my testimony at the hearing in Hilo that AKP does not have a proven process with demonstrated commercial viability,” Elwell writes. “It takes energy to make fuels, and the best location for a commercially sound project for biofuel production is not one with outstandingly high rates for electric power.
“As I understand it,” states Elwell, “the PUC charter is to help provide customers with reasonable rates. With rates four times the national average, HELCO should focus on cost reduction, not on experiments in unproven technologies. I ask you to imagine the public outcry if HELCO management were in charge of Hawai`i's gasoline and asked consumers to pay $16 a gallon!”
“They are requesting a rate hike assuming that the AKP project is successful. What kind of rate hike would they request if it were approved and failed?” Elwell asks the PUC.
A WORKSHOP ON THE PROPOSED NEW BUILDING CODE will be held today, Wednesday, Sept. 7 at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The new building code makes single wall construction almost impossible and calls for more safety measures and insulation. County Building Department staff will explain and clarify proposed changes. The state building code was adopted in 2010, and adoption of Bill 270 would bring the county into compliance with state law. To view a copy of Bill 270, Draft 3, go to http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/0/doc/756796/Page1.aspx. To view a copy of the current Hawai`i County Code, Chapter 5, relating to building, go to http://co.hawaii.hi.us/countycode/chapter05.pdf. To view a free copy of the International Code go to http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/OverviewFreeCodes.aspx and http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/FreeCodes.aspx
Pahala vegetables from Hesters farm are sold at Volcano, Na`alehu and Ocean View farmers markets. Photo by Julia Neal
LOCAL FOODS are becoming more accessible to the general consumer, with the expansion of distribution in farmers markets in Ocean View, Na`alehu and Volcano for Ka`u. KTA on the Big Island is continually looking for locally grown foods for supermarket distribution. In addition, according to a Civil Beat article by Michael Levine, more supermarkets in Hawai`i like Whole Foods, Foodland, and smaller businesses are selling locally produced foods.
Greater access, however, is limited to people’s willingness to pay the higher price. "At the end of the day, what we try to do is buy local whenever humanly possible, but it has to make financial sense," says Corporate Chef Keoni Chang of `Aina Haina Foodland Farms. Another obstacle to local food sales is competition with organic imported food. No local farms produce enough eggs from cage-free chickens for Whole Foods Market, says Community and Vendor Relations coordinator of the chain Claire Sullivan, and so the supermarket carries imported organic eggs over local non-organic eggs. The article is the first part of three on local food production in Hawaii. See civilbeat.com
PESTICIDES MAY THREATEN HONEYBEES, according to Hawai`i Beekeeper’s Association members. Nancy Esco, of Kona Queen Hawai`i, Inc., told Stephens Media that certain pesticides like Imidacloprid could help cause bee colony collapse disorder. There are no reports of beehive collapse disorder on the Big Island. However, beekeepers will explore this and other issues when they meet to discuss worldwide risks to bee populations and agriculture on Sept. 12 - 15. The gathering of the Western Apicultural Society will be at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The public is invited and beekeepers are expected to visit some apiaries in Ka`u. Apiary recovery following assaults by Varroa mite and small hive beetles will be one focus of the meetings. Volcano encaustic artist John Matsushita will demonstrate painting with bees' wax Sept. 14. The public is invited to take part in the 2nd annual Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge that evening at the hotel.
After the conference, Larry Connor, PhD., a beekeeping columnist and Wicwas Press publisher, will present a day-long masters' workshop in Hawi on Sept. 16 on rebuilding the apiary after losses.
Alison Yanha, a Ka`u Beekeeper, is concerned about food security as honeybees are threatened.
BUILDING CODE WORKSHOPS to study proposed changes will be held today, Tuesday, Sept. 6, at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Council member Brittany Smart is reminding her constituents about the workshops as the new building code could affect the cost of construction and also safety issues. County staff from the Building Department will explain and clarify proposed changes. Bill 270, Draft 3, would change the Building Code by adopting the 2006 International Building Code along with a number of state and county amendments. The county is required by state law to adopt a building code using model codes and standards, such as the 2006 IBC, no later than two years after the adoption of the state building code. The state building code was adopted in 2010, and adoption of Bill 270 would bring the county into compliance with state law. To view a copy of Bill 270, Draft 3, go to http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/0/doc/756796/Page1.aspx. To view a copy of the current Hawai`i County Code, Chapter 5, relating to building, go to http://co.hawaii.hi.us/countycode/chapter05.pdf. To view a free copy of the International Code go to http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/OverviewFreeCodes.aspx and http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/FreeCodes.aspx
A plan to put sidewalks on mauka side of Hwy 11 could threaten monkeypod trees. Photo by Julia Neal
HWY 11 ONE LANE ROAD CLOSURES CONTINUE today through Friday. These alternating lane closures on Mamalahoa Highway 11 in both directions take place between mile markers 69 and 72 near South Point Road, Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pavement resurfacing and guardrail installation. Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice; all roadwork is subject to good weather.
COMMENTS ON PUTTING SIDEWALKS along the mauka side of Hwy 11 in Na`alehu are being taken until Sept. 30. The sidewalks would run from Na`alehu Methodist Church to Ohai Road, across from Na`alehu School. It is called the highest priority on the Big Island, according to the draft statewide Pedestrian Master Plan. “Although the makai side has a sidewalk in good condition, the shoulders beyond the serviced area can be narrow for pedestrian circulation,” the plan states. One concern about the plan is the future of the shade making monkeypod trees and stone walls along part of the route. The plan can be read and comments can be made at hawaiipedplan.com or 808-587-6395. Comments are being accepted through Sept. 30.
