Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, July 23, 2015

Kumu hula Bobo Palacat with Hula Halau Na Pua Ha`aheo `o Kona perform Saturday. Photo from Volcano Art Center

HAWAI`I COUNTY AND TAWHIRI POWER, which generates electricity with windmills at South Point and sells it to Hawai`i Electric Light Co., oppose the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy. As intervenors in the Public Utilities Commission’s examination of the deal, the two entities submitted testimony to the PUC this week. 

      William Rolston, energy coordinator at the county Department of Research and Development, testified for the county. “Whether admitted or not by incumbent utilities, a revolution has begun with individuals taking their energy destiny in their own hands,” Rolston said. “The death spiral for the Vertically Integrated Investor-Owned Utility seems to have started already, particularly in a region such as Hawai`i, where extremely high prevailing electricity rates provide sufficient ‘headspace’ for alternatives to deliver more favorable economics and a more desirable ‘value package’ to consumers. The electric utilities are seeing decreasing demand year after year, in large part due to their high prices, and are holding tightly to the mechanism called Decoupling that ensures their business model will persist even with these imminent warning signs.”

Tawhiri Power, which operates windmills at South Point, opposes
the proposed merger of HECO and NextEra Energy.
Photo by Peter Anderson

      As an example of “individuals taking their energy destiny in their own hands,” Rolston noted that “our Ka`u residents are extremely self-sufficient and survive many interruptions of power, including, for example, when they have been regularly cut off from help due to steady rains that led to flooding, cutting off road access to any outside assistance.”
      Rolston pointed out what he considers a lack of trust of many Hawai`i residents toward outside entities. “Most communities are wise enough to let each newcomer know, especially in tight-knit communities (such as those that comprise the Island of Moloka`i, Island of Lana`i, the areas of Puna and Ka`u, as well as many others) that they have heard all the promises before. Rightfully, they are suspicious as they have years of experience with failed promises from outsiders and even the HECO companies themselves.”
      Rolston also said, “There is significant lack of transparency with this transaction in terms of ‘what, how, when things will be done.’ Further, the ratepayer is not guaranteed any cost reductions. Therefore, if the commission decides to approve the merger, it must include ... conditions to protect the public interest.”
      Tawhiri is concerned that the merger as currently formulated may severely impact its interests. “The application … does not contain any provisions or commitments that the applicants will ensure adequate protection of current long-term power purchase agreements with independent power producers, said ­­­­­Steve Pace, president of Apollo Energy Corp., the managing member of Tawhiri, which has a PPA that expires in 2027. “Without such mechanisms, independent renewable energy producers like Tawhiri must consider the possibility of losing its PPA subsequent to the Change of Control of the Hawaiian Electric Companies. Additionally, the proposed Change of Control has no assurances that Tawhiri will not risk incurring substantial loss of revenues because of increasing curtailment of energy deliveries to the utilities because of either significant load migration or uncontrolled growth of affiliates.
      “The application for the proposed Change of Control does not present any means for preventing continued shrinkage of HECO Companies loads, specifically the load of Hawai`i Electric Light Company, Inc. This is a very serious problem that exists today. Even worse, the Application seems to be endorsing the HECO Companies’ plans to triple investments in Distributed Energy Resources without any sound planning or consideration of the commission’s inclinations. Without sound planning and consideration of the Commission’s inclinations, DERs will siphon away customer loads from utility-scale renewables which will result in a negative impact to Tawhiri. 

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DLNR Chair Suzanne Case
Photo by John DeMello

THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM, administrated through Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is accepting applications for conservation acquisition assistance to protect important working forest lands from the threat of conversion to non-forest uses. 

      The program works with private landowners, state and county agencies and conservation nonprofit groups to promote sustainable, working forests. Roughly 58 percent of the land in the state is privately owned. According to DLNR, millions of acres of privately managed, working forests nationwide have been lost or converted to other uses in the last 10 years, with millions more that are projected to be at risk in the next decade. Hawai`i is not an exception to this trend.
      “With the help of land trusts and conservation-minded landowners, we have been able to protect our important forest resources, preserve forest health and watersheds, shelter endangered species and safeguard our culturally important sites,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case.
      More than two million acres of threatened private forests in the U.S. have been protected under the Forest Legacy Program, of which 45,000 acres have been protected in Hawai`i. DOFAW is currently working on projects that will protect an additional 5,000 acres of important forested watershed lands through the establishment of conservation easements.

      Conservation easements are a relatively new conservation tool that allows a landowner to retain ownership of the restricted title to their property while providing permanent protection from development or unsustainable uses. Often, this economic opportunity provides landowners with an alternative to selling their land to development companies. Conservation easements are strictly voluntary to enter into, and the restrictions are binding to all future owners in perpetuity.

      “The national Forest Legacy Program is very competitive with only a few dozen projects funded by the U.S. Forest Service each year,” Case said. “Hawai`i always puts in strong projects that compete well in this national program.”

Norman Arancon as the King of Siam
Photo from KDEN

      The Hawai`i Forest Legacy Program has identified forest lands throughout the state as important and in need of permanent protection. More information about this status can be found in the state’s Assessment of Needs at (http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/lap/forest-legacy/). The Hawai`i program accepts both fee title and conservation easement acquisitions. Fee title acquisitions are voluntary and can provide landowners with the knowledge that their property will be managed and owned in perpetuity by the state of Hawai‘i.

      The deadline for the next round of applications to the program is Aug. 17. Applications can be found at the website above and should be submitted to Irene Sprecher by email. Landowners and nonprofit entities who are interested in participating are encouraged to contact Sprecher at 808-587-4167 or by email at Irene.M.Sprecher@Hawaii.gov to discuss their property and interest in the program.
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FINAL PERFORMANCES OF KDEN’S summer production of The King and I take place this weekend. Showtimes are tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $14 general admission, $12 for seniors and students and $10 children 12 and under. Available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo and at the door.

      Call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com for more information.

VOLCANO ART CENTER PRESENTS HULA Saturday. Kumu hula Bobo Palacat with Hula Halau Na Pua Ha`aheo `o Kona perform from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the hula platform near VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Loke Kamanu and `ohana share Na Mea Hula on the gallery porch from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S SUMMER Jazz In The Forest concert series continues on Saturday with a Miles Davis Tribute Concert and Island All-Star Jazz Jam. The evening at VAC’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village features the Jr. Volcano Choy VAC Jazz Ensemble jamming with various jazz stars of the Big Island. Performances are at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

      Tickets for matinees are $15 for VAC members ($20 non-members) and for the evening shows are $20 for VAC members ($25 non-members).
      A Wine and Beer Room is open to enjoy before and after the concert. Ticket holders can purchase Volcano Red Ale and Mauna Kea Pale Ale from Mehana Brewing Company as well as wine before each performance.
      Also, an area has been set aside for dancing.
      Tickets are available through tomorrow at volcanoartcenter.org, VAC’s Administration Office, VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Basically Books in Hilo. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets may be picked up at VAC's office today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or held at Will Call on Saturday.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, July 22, 2015

KDEN has added another matinee to its final weekend of performances of The King & I. Photo from KDEN

KA`U COULD BE A PIONEER in the use of hydrogen fuel for transportation. Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today, reported that the county Agriculture Advisory Commission yesterday discussed using excess power from Edmund C. Olson Trust’s proposed hydroelectric plant to create a hydrogen filling station.

At full capacity, Keaiwa reservoir holds almost 13 million gallons of water.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Cook Lauer called the project “a model for private-sector self-sufficient water and energy projects on agriculture land countywide.”
      Chair Tim Richards said at the meeting, “Ka`u is a place where, if you just add water, you can grow anything you want.” 

      The Keaiwa reservoir, the source of water for Olson’s coffee farm and proposed hydroelectric plant, was damaged in the 1983 earthquake, leaving cracks about halfway up the side of the nearly 13-million-gallon structure. 

      Olson Trust land manager John Cross told Cook Lauer, “We’re working with the Department of Land & Natural Resources on an acceptable repair plan to return the reservoir to its originally designed capacity.” The reservoir currently can hold five million gallons of water but could generate much more electricity if full.
      According to Cook Lauer, original plans to produce enough electricity to run the Ka`u Coffee Mill and use the excess to power 400 homes in Pahala fell through when Hawai`i Electric Light Co. told Olson he would have to pay about $1 million to upgrade power lines along Wood Valley Road.
      Another option is to use the power to replace propane burners at the mill, creating a 100 percent green energy operation. “It would be exciting to have this powered completely by water,” Cross told Cook Lauer.
      See westhawaiitoday.com.
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KA`U’S COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER Maile David submitted a resolution to provide $15,000 in contingency relief funds to `O Ka`u Kakou for community outreach and engagement activities that promote agricultural tourism. David’s request states that the goal is to “increase economic contribution of the visitor industry of Hawai`i Island and promote quality experiences for visitors and residents alike.” 

      Hawai`i County Council meets Friday at 9 a.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meeting is also streamed live at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings.
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HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY and NextEra Energy responded to Gov. David Ige’s and state agencies’ opposition to the proposed merger of the two utilities.
      “We recognize that this proposed merger is a very important matter for our customers, our communities and the state at large,” HECO president and CEO Alan Oshima said. “The PUC review is an ongoing process that provides an opportunity to address and answer questions or concerns. As more information is provided throughout this process, we feel strongly that others will also conclude that this partnership with NextEra Energy will result in significant benefits for our customers and for Hawai`i’s leadership in clean energy.”

      NextEra spokesman Rob Gould told Cindy Ellen Russell, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “NextEra Energy and the Hawaiian Electric Cos. believe that this merger truly is in the best interest of the state of Hawai`i and, in particular, Hawaiian Electric’s customers. We have made commitments to employees, community causes and for the establishment of a local independent advisory board, and we will listen to and work with all stakeholders to achieve what’s best for the state of Hawai`i and Hawaiian Electric’s customers.
       “We are optimistic that as the regulatory process continues, we will find more common ground and further demonstrate the strong public-interest benefits of this merger.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
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Marti Townsend

THE SIERRA CLUB OF HAWAI`I PRAISED Gov. David Ige for publicly announcing his opposition to the NextEra-HECO merger. “We 100 percent agree with the governor on the NextEra takeover,” said Marti Townsend, Director of Sierra Club’s Hawai`i Chapter. “Hawai`i is leading a revolution in renewable energy that requires local leadership that is committed to serving the needs of Hawai`i’s energy customers. NextEra is just not on the same page with the rest of Hawai`i.” 

      Sierra Club’s testimony submitted to the Public Utilities Commission on Monday highlights in detail how NextEra’s business philosophy and culture as practiced in Florida run in what the Townsend called “the exact opposite direction of Hawai`i’s statewide commitment to clean energy.”
      According to the Sierra Club, NextEra:

• “Demonstrates no experience or accomplishments in renewable energy, but relies predominantly and increasingly on LNG and secondarily on nuclear energy, neither of which will achieve Hawai`i’s 100 percent renewable by 2045 goal. 
• Aggressively campaigns against customer-side clean energy, including energy efficiency and customer renewable systems. 
• Focuses decision-making on revenue loss to the utility, rather than total benefits and costs to all customers and society. 
• Lacks experience or accomplishments in solar energy; less than one percent of its capacity is from solar energy, and 0.01 percent of its 4.7 million customers have rooftop solar. 
• Perpetuates the lack of market competition by opposing customer options for third-party solar providers, eliminating customer solar incentive programs and circumventing competitive bidding for its proposed utility solar projects. 
• Continually opposes customer energy efficiency, recently gutting energy efficiency goals and programs to almost nothing. 
• Fails to use advanced metering infrastructure to support customer options and value such as innovative rate designs and distributed energy resources. 
• While restricting and eliminating customer options to manage their energy usage and bills, pursues massive utility-side investments like costly and risky nuclear plants and automatically passes the costs onto its ratepayers. 
• Dominates the political arena through extensive spending on lobbying and political contributions, and revolving door relationships. 
• Pushes through controversial projects and revenue increases over the strong objections of the Office of Public Counsel, Florida’s counterpart to Hawai`i’s Division of Consumer Advocacy. 
• Actively engages in the political arena where the commission’s authority is undermined and even commission members are replaced.” 

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and five other lawmakers hosted a press conference
to encourage members of Congress to vote no on the DARK Act.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

TODAY, U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD and other colleagues condemned the industry-driven Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, also known as the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act. This legislation would overturn state laws requiring labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms. 

       According to Gabbard, although 90 percent of Americans support the labeling of food containing GMOs, there is no federal policy in place to label such foods. Three states – Vermont, Maine and Connecticut – have passed laws requiring GMO labeling, and over 30 states have considered similar legislation, including Hawai`i.
       The bill would preempt states’ laws on GMO labeling and codify the current system of voluntary labeling. In addition, the bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to allow “natural” claims on food products containing GMOs.
       Gabbard said sixty-four countries around the world already require the labeling of GE foods, including all the member nations of the European Union, Russia, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.
      “Almost 90 percent of the American people want to know what’s in their food,” Gabbard said. “The DARK Act would roll back steps taken by a majority of states and counties, including communities in Hawai`i, to better inform people about the ingredients in the food they eat. This bill takes away a basic consumer right for people to know what’s in their food and undermines local control. This bill is bad for transparency, consumer rights and democracy and should be defeated.” 

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DUE TO OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO KDEN’s production of The King and I, a Saturday matinee has been added to this final weekend of performances. The show, which stars Norman Arancon as the king and Jeanette Gilbert as Anna, plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Tickets for the Saturday matinee are by reservation. Advance sale tickets for Friday and Saturday evenings and the Sunday matinee are available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods and The Most Irresistible Shop. Call 982-7344 for reservations or more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Hawai`i County Environmental Management Committee is considering a bill that would impose fees on bags of refuse thrown out at transfer stations, such as this one in Wai`ohinu. Photo from Hawai`i Zero Waste

A PARTIAL PAY-PER-BAG FEE PROGRAM for refuse to be landfilled is on the agenda of Hawai`i County’s Environmental Management Committee meeting this week. The program allows each household and business one 33-gallon bag of refuse per week to be landfilled without any bag fee. 

      According to Bill 32, introduced by Kohala Council member Margaret Wille, its purpose is to reward those who separate their recyclables and compostables from landfill refuse.

Margaret Wille

      Thom Randle, Chair of the county Environmental Management Commission, said the EMC supports the intent of this bill to prevent recyclables and compostables from entering the landfill. He said that successful implementation by the Department of Environmental Management would require an increase in the department’s budget for both personnel and equipment. The DEM Solid Waste Division is preparing an analysis of funding necessary to successfully implement the program.
      Randle said distribution logistics are “challenging, complicated and costly.” He also pointed out that multiple bag distribution locations would be required, as well as a system to document and monitor tags. He also said options to purchase bags at local businesses should be pursued.
      EMC suggested that additional bag costs be set at $4 per 33-gallon bag, and that 15-gallon bags should not be considered. However, if 15-gallon bags are desired, cost of $2 per bag should be set.
      Randle said options for automated monitoring of residential use of transfer station should be researched. One suggestion is for use of remote scan devices similar to toll booth monitoring/billing systems. Residents utilizing transfer stations would be tracked and billed a cost when usage exceeds once per week. Randle said such a system would greatly simplify monitoring and enforcement, reduce requirement for additional personnel and preclude requirement for special bag/tag purchase.
      EMC also emphasized that recycle, reduce and reuse education efforts should be funded and increased to maximize different media sources and opportunities. The committee also suggested expanding HI-5 redemption programs to include additional recyclables to further incentivize diversion and recycling.
      “Rewarding for recycling rather than penalizing for not recycling would be preferable,” Randle said.
      Environmental Management Committee meets Thursday at 3 p.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
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OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and Florida-based NextEra Energy is coming from Gov. David Ige and state agencies, according to a story in Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Craig T. Kojima reported that Ige yesterday recommended that the state Public Utilities Commission reject the deal. “When we first met with NextEra, we were very clear that we had serious reservations about its proposal,” Ige said in a statement to the Star-Advertiser. “Those reservations remain, and if anything, are stronger today.” 

      Ige said, “We are committed to a 100 percent renewable future, standing alone among the 50 states in the nation in that action. We need an electric company that sees Hawai`i as the center of its work and the opportunity we represent as one of the greatest moments in history for any utility. We have not seen that in this proposal.”
      The state Office of Planning and Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism filed documents with the PUC stating that the merger “should not be approved,” Kojima said. The office said NextEra has not provided information about possible societal benefits of the deal. “There remain questions or uncertainty on issues such as commitments to corporate giving, impacts to employees/employment/labor, corporate governance and community values,” the office said.
      DBEDT is concerned that NextEra has not proven that it has internalized local issues into its decision making processes. “The applicants have not shown that the proposed transaction is in the public interest. Thus, the commission has the authority to reject the proposal without further consideration,” DBEDT said. “The applicants had the burden of proof and were either unable or unwilling to submit a proposal that satisfied that burden.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
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AVERAGE RETAIL GASOLINE PRICES in Hawai`i have fallen 1.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.33/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 355 gas outlets in Hawai`i. This compares with the national average that has fallen 0.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.76/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com. 

      Including the change in gas prices in Hawai`i during the past week, prices yesterday were 100.7 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 2.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 3.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 81.2 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
      “After areas of the West Coast saw hikes at the pump, things are finally beginning to cool with gas prices declining in all but 15 states versus last week,” said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. “While California, Arizona and Nevada all saw price increases versus a week ago, the tide turned late in the week when prices peaked and now are moving lower again… . With oil nearing $50/bbl, there’s a very good possibility that by mid-fall, gasoline prices could fall under $2/gallon in a growing number of states.”

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Lauren Moriguchi

LAUREN MORIGUCHI IS DIRECTOR of the Executive Office on Early Learning, appointed by Gov. David Ige. She will coordinate early childhood education services currently offered within the public school system and will guide policy around the expansion of early childhood education through collaboration with legislators and the governor. 

      Moriguchi was born and raised on O`ahu and has worked in education for more than 15 years. She has served as an educational specialist at the state Department of Education, a preschool teacher, special educator, resource teacher, mentor teacher and educational specialist at both the district and state levels.
      Moriguchi works with Special Olympics Hawai`i and has been instrumental in developing the structure for the Young Athlete’s program, which provides children 2.5 to seven years of age with a developmentally appropriate learning environment for children and parents while providing leadership skills to middle and high school students.
      A graduate of the University of Idaho, Moriguchi received her bachelor’s degree in Child, Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis on early childhood, and a minor in Aging Studies. She is currently working on her master’s degree in Curriculum Studies with an emphasis on early childhood.
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INCREASED ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE for Medicare patients is the goal of new legislation Sen. Mazie Hirono is fighting for. The bipartisan Telemedicine for Medicare Act is a bill that would allow Medicare patients to seek care from Medicare doctors across state lines through telemedicine services.

      “As our country confronts a looming physician shortage, those of us in Hawai`i are already feeling the pain of a lack of access to medical care in rural and underserved communities,” Hirono said. 

A`ali`i is valuable as a component of lei.
NPS Photo by Jay Robinson

      “Hawai`i residents often are forced to drive for hours to see their physician or spend thousands of dollars to fly to O`ahu and the mainland to seek care from a specialist. For seniors, these long travel times are difficult and even impossible. The TELE-MED Act will help to eliminate the financial and physical stress of seeking quality medical care by allowing seniors access to Medicare-participating physicians from the convenience of their home or local doctor’s office.”
      The TELE-MED Act is supported by the Health IT Now Coalition, the Healthcare Leadership Council, the U.S. Chamber, Verizon and the Parkinson’s Action Network.

RANGERS FROM HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park share the uses and cultural importance of native and Polynesian introduced plants tomorrow from 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai.
      Call 985-6011 for more information.

OCEAN VIEW RANCHOS SOLAR SUBSTATION, planned by Hawai`i Electric Light Co., is the subject of a steering committee meeting on Thursday, July 30 at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The substation is designed to support solar farms on more than 20 lots in the community.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.