Ka`u News Briefs Jan. 31, 2013

 Volunteers removed more that 7,300 plastic fragments from Kamilo Beach during Hawai`i Wildlife Fund's first Ka`u Coast cleanup for 2013 on Jan. 12.  Photo from Hawai`i Wildlife Fund

`AINA KOA PONO is planning to bring a 33-ton-a-day microwave depolymerization unit to its planned refinery site off Wood Valley Road for testing within the “next several months,” according to a press release issued by AKP this morning. “As you may recall,” says the press release, “AKP’s plan is to convert biomass into a crude oil using modular units of a microwave process, compressing to about an hour what in nature takes thousands, even millions of years. Our goal is a drop-in biofuel that will replace fossil fuels and provide a co-product of biochar which can be used as a soil amendment.

`Aina Koa Pono plans to bring a 33-ton per day Micro
Dee unit to Ka`u within the next several months. Shown
here is a 5-ton unit in North Carolina.

      “Our plan is to start with one 33-ton-a-day unit so the community can see and understand the Micro Dee (Microwave Thermo Catalytic Depolymerization) process in place. AKP and its engineering, construction and procurement partner, AECOM Technology, are focused on final plans for this trailerable unit; we’re performing final validation on technology so investors are confident as we move ahead. We expect to locate the 33-ton unit in Hawai`i within the next several months and be operational before second quarter, 2014.
      “We will use the unit to run further engineering tests, perfect energy balances and test local feedstock to see which is most appropriate. The 33-ton unit will serve as the basis for expansion to our larger biofuel operation. “Once the unit is operational, we will be better able to determine if an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is required,” the press release states.

NA MAMO O KAWA is the tentative name of a community group that hopes to work with all parties involved with the future of Kawa. Local fireman Lui Sales and University of Hawai`i land use student Pueo McGuire, grandson of Pele Hanoa, both grew up in Ka`u and surf Kawa. They spoke yesterday during a county-sponsored meeting on the future of Kawa.
       The more than 700 acres along the coast between Punalu`u and Honu`apo is now in county hands. The two young men talked about bringing about peace between families and all those who claim rights to the place. They talked about Kawa staying low-key and respecting its traditional use by people who live in Ka`u.
      Karen Teshima, an executive assistant to Mayor Billy Kenoi who led the meeting, described Kawa as a “special place” and said her own family heritage has ties there.
      Teshima said that the county, as the steward of Kawa since its purchase from private property owners, decided to conduct an archaeological survey and “let Kawa settle.” She said she was there to listen to all the people.

The future of Kawa drew a large crowd with many points of view to Na`alehu Community Center last night. Photo by Julia Neal

      Wilma Holi flew in from Hanapepe, Kaua`i and said a similar situation is taking place at Hanapepe surrounding the native Hawaiian salt pan area along the coast. She said that while Hawaiian families want to continue the traditional use of the area, newer community members want a bicycle trail and a place to walk their dogs.
      She also called for peace among Hawaiians who are making claims to the area. “Don’t quibble,” she advised. Those families who don’t want to participate in the future of Kawa should step back. Those who want to be involved should work together, she recommended.
      People speaking at the meeting presented many points of view. A large group came to support Abel Simeona Lui, who lived at Kawa for more than 20 years when it was owned by several private property owners. They talked about “Uncle Abel” providing lua (portable restrooms) at the beach and welcoming the surfers there over the years. Some said that Lui should be returned to live there.
    One woman said that her family had Native Hawaiian ties and burials at Kawa and had been friendly with him in the past but that “Uncle Abel” more recently became hostile and intimidating to the family.
      Lui denied being hostile and talked about his children being “born on the land,” at Kawa. “My children’s piko is over there on the land.” He talked about growing sweet potatoes for the surf meets and said there are about 100 ipo (gourds used for hula instruments) drying there. Lui claimed that he is in the Supreme Court still fighting over ownership of Kawa.

Wilma Holi flew in from Kaua`i and said to the
community, "Don't bicker." Photo by Julia Neal

      Several of his supporters talked about his eviction, calling it illegal, saying there should have been more notice and that evicting a native person off the land is illegal under federal law.
       “Who like me off the land? Who like me off the land?” asked Lui. He read from letters of support urging the return of “Uncle Moses and Uncle Abel to the land at Kawa to take care of it.” His supporters clapped their hands and blew conch shells.
      A number of people talked about the current county practice of Kawa being gated and closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and hiring police to protect it, saying there was never any need to pay anyone to protect Kawa in the past.
      Kauanoa Hoomanawanui, state burial site specialist for the Big Island, said she is also a descendant of Ka`u. She said during a site inspection for reconnaissance, a two-day sweep, archaeologists came across many burials, which make Kawa “almost useless to development.” She called it a “burial preserve.”
      She said she wants to open a discussion with the community. “If you know of anyone buried there, fill out a descendency claim. She urged the community to become part of the planning for Kawa.
      Several speakers noted that in 1980 the courts decided that there will be permanent public access to Kawa, but the county recently blocked access. Surfers, fishermen and other community groups filed suit to recover traditional access more than 30 years ago and won.
    Pueo McGuire, who worked for Sen. Dan Akaka in Washington, D.C. and currently works for Office of Hawaiian Affairs in land planning while finishing his college work, said he has been going to Kawa his whole life to “surf, fish and practice my religion. I learned what it means to be from Ka`u there. I learned what it means to be Hawaiian there. The only time I have been prohibited from going to Kawa is this winter when county put up their (gates).”
      He called for cooperation. “We are all looking for common ground. It is about Kawa, not about us…. The plan should be about those who really use it…. Twenty-four hour beach access is essential to Hawaiian culture. It does not start at 6 a.m. and stop at 6 p.m.,” said McGuire. He called for inclusive, cooperative planning.
      John Kahiapo, from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, said his agency is particularly interested in water – the anchialine pools and estuary. He said there is a plan to survey native fish, estuaries and habitats. “We don’t have any baseline study. We don’t know what is in the estuary or anchialine pools.” He said this kind of survey sometimes “comes up with organisms you can’t find anywhere else.”
      Several speakers brought up the redevelopment of old plantation water sources mauka of the coast. “How about streams that have been shut down?” one speaker asked, claiming that by putting all the water in pipes, there are streams that are no longer being fed.
      Lui Sales cautioned the county about planning too much infrastructure at Kawa. “Building big roads will invite plenty guys. We don’t want publicity,” he said. “For many of us, it it is kind of bummers.” He said the local people want continued access to surf, camp and fish. “Keep Ka`u country, and keep Kawa low-key and solid,” he said. He sized up the needed infrastructure as rubbish bins and luas. The mayor’s representative said there will be more community input as the surveys are completed.

Joni Mae Makuakane-Jarrell NPS photo by Jay Robinson

RANGER JONI MAE MAKUAKANE-JARRELL is the new chief of Interpretation at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and oversees visitor services and educational and cultural programs at the park. She is the first native Hawaiian to serve in the position. 

      Makuakane-Jarrell has worked at all five national park units on Hawai`i Island during her 32-year park service career. She began as an interpretive ranger at Hawai`i Volcanoes through the Young Adult Conservation Corps and worked her way through the ranks, becoming the park’s supervisory ranger. Makuakane-Jarrell then worked as the interpretative specialist at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park with her late husband, park ranger Steve Makuakane-Jarrell and served as a law enforcement specialist at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
      “One of my visions for the park is sharing all the traditional Hawaiian names of places here,” Makuakane-Jarrell said. “Hawaiians are very keen observers, and when they name things, it usually tells the story or history of the area. By using these given names, it helps protect, honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.”
      Before becoming chief of Interpretation, Makuakane-Jarrell served for eight years as educational specialist for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. She coordinates the annual Cultural Festival, now in its 33rd year, and piloted the first Summer Junior Ranger Program. She also started the Na Leo Manu concerts and `Ike Hana No`eau cultural workshops at the park.
      “Joni Mae brings an ideal combination of perspective into the important position of chief of Interpretation,” said park superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Her strong background of Hawaiian values and culture, combined with her leadership skills and dedication to the park’s mission, and significance as a World Heritage Site, will serve the park and its visitors very well.”

More than 1.5 tons of debris were removed from Kamilo Point Jan. 12.
Photo from Hawai`i Wildlife Fund

FIFTY-ONE VOLUNTEERS JOINED Hawai`i Wildlife Fund on Saturday, Jan. 12 to help remove more than 1.5 tons of marine debris from Kamilo Point along the Ka`u Coast. Twelve volunteers from the Japanese Environmental Action Network, the Japan Ministry of the Environment, the University of Kagoshima and other Japanese NGOs concerned about March 11, 2011 tsunami debris helped out. A representative from the Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C. and a designer from London volunteered. 

      On Saturday, Feb 23 - Ocean Day - Malama Kanaloa will be held at Hilo Bayfront. Saturday, March 16 brings a cleanup event to the Ka`u Coast. Saturday. May 25 is Hawai`i Wildlife Fund’s Annual Manuka NARs Cleanup Event. Space is limited, so RSVP soon.
      Ongoing anchialine pool restoration and invasive plant species removal workdays are held every month. Contact Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.

EVERY FEBRUARY, Ka Lae Quilters and Red Hat Ladies of Ka`u raise funds to support improvements to the Ka`u Hospital’s emergency room. Tomorrow, they hold a bake and craft Sale at the hospital at 10 a.m. Another sale is set for next Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. at Punalu`u. Contributions are welcome. Call Barbara Beatty at 929-9072.

Author Tom Peek holds a writing workshop Saturday.
Image from Volcano Art Center

TOM PEEK, AUTHOR OF Daughters of Fire, offers a workshop open to all levels and genres Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. No writing experience is necessary. Fee is $85 or $76.50 for VAC members. Call 967-8222 to sign up. 

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB supporters can cheer on Youth of the Year winners and raise money for the club through the purchase of tickets to the Youth of the Year banquet a week from tomorrow on Friday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at `Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. The event features inspirational speakers, awards, food and auction items. Individual tickets are $70 each. To purchase tickets in Ka`u, call Boys & Girls Club board member Julia Neal at 928-9811.

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

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Jan. 30, 2013

Ka Lae Quilters and Red Hat Ladies of Ka`u begin their month of fundraising activities for Ka`u Hospital
 Emergency Room on Friday with a craft and bake sale at the hospital. Their annual spaghetti dinner is
 scheduled for Feb. 23. Photo by Julia Neal

STATE SENATOR JOSH GREEN, whose district extends through West Ka`u, chairs the Senate Health Committee and has introduced a slew of measures to the 2013 Hawai`i Legislature, from bills to control firearms to reducing taxes for low-income people and establishing a tax on sweetened beverages. Many were co-introduced with East Ka`u Sen. Russell Ruderman.

      SB 932 would prohibit any person who is a danger to self or danger to others from possessing, having custody or control of, receiving, purchasing, or attempting to receive or purchase firearms or other dangerous or deadly weapons. It would create a reporting system for persons who seriously threaten a readily identifiable person or persons to a mental health professional. It would require the Department of Public Safety to create a database and list of persons prohibited from possessing, having custody or control of, receiving, purchasing, or attempting to receive or purchase firearms and other dangerous or deadly weapons, which would be accessible to law enforcement, mental health professionals and sellers of firearms. It would require the Department of Public Safety to make a list of persons whose license for firearms or other dangerous or deadly weapons has been revoked.

      SB 69 would appropriate $100,000 to the county police departments to initiate a gun buy-back program. 

      SB 98 would reduce the tax liability for low-income people by creating a tax credit that would reduce a person’s income tax to zero when federal adjusted gross income falls below federal poverty guidelines. It would reduce a person’s income tax liability by 50 percent when federal adjusted gross income falls between 100 and 125 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
     SB 201would authorize the director of Business, Economic Development & and Tourism to allow the sale of motor vehicle gasoline that does not contain ethanol unless sufficient quantities of locally produced ethanol or biofuel crops have been produced and are available to meet the requirements under existing law.
     SB 481 would establish the Instructional Office of Hawaiian Studies for the purpose of providing instruction to public school students on Hawaiian history, culture, arts, and language.
      SB 610 would direct the state Department of Education to name the next completed public high school the Daniel Ken Inouye High School.

Sen. Josh Green

     SB 616 would prohibit smoking at public bus stops, parks, beaches and in vehicles when a minor is present in the vehicle. 

     SB 1999 would establish a two-year Hawai`i colorectal cancer screening pilot program using the Hawai`i comprehensive breast and cervical cancer control program as a model.
      SB 343 would require the state director of Health to participate in the national oral health surveillance system. It would permit dental hygienists to apply preventive sealants in a school-based dental sealant program. It would require the state Department of Health to establish and administer a school-based dental sealant program in a high-need demonstration school and report to the Legislature about the department’s efforts to prioritize prevention of tooth decay. It would appropriate funds to the program, including plans to implement the program on a statewide level.
     SB 638 would require all cellular telephones, including refurbished and remanufactured cellular telephones, sold or leased by a retailer in the state to bear a label that warns consumers of the potential dangers of electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellular phones.
     SB 59 would increase the monthly board rate distributed by the department of human services for foster care services for children.
     SB 639 would reclassify pseudoephedrine as a schedule V drug that would only be dispensed with a prescription. It would exempt cold products that contain other active ingredients, with certain conditions. Requires pharmacies to maintain pseudoephedrine-related records for five years. Pseudoephedrine is a crucial chemical in the making of METH or ICE.

     SB 640 would prohibit manufacture, sale, or distribution of child-care products and toys for young children that contain bisphenol-A or phthalates beginning Jan. 1, 2014. It would require manufacturers to choose safe alternatives. It would prohibit use of packages and packaging containing lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium beginning Jan. 1, 2014. It would prohibit Hawai`i Health Systems Corp. from purchasing and using vinyl intravenous solution bags and vinyl tubing beginning Jan. 1, 2014.
     SB 643 would mandate that all public school teachers receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and certification.
     SB 646 would establish a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, syrup and powder with the revenues generated to be deposited into the community health centers special fund and the trauma system special fund.
      SB 647 would adopt the California Environmental Protection Agency emission standards for low-emission vehicle standards beginning Jan. 1, 2015.
      SB 1238 would establish the maternal mortality review committee to conduct comprehensive reviews of maternal deaths in Hawai`i, which would include collecting, analyzing, and disseminating maternal mortality information. It would require the committee to hold meetings and submit an annual report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature.
      The bills are available online at capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=green.

Consumer Advocate Jeffrey Ono

THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE for the state of Hawai`i has issued new questions for `Aina Koa Pono and the utility companies planning to build a refinery in Ka`u to manufacture diesel for the Kona power plant. Consumer Advocate Jeffrey Ono asks for the identity of people responsible for preparing responses to the questions asked about the AKP process and financial plan, and the identity of any witness who would be responsible during any evidentiary hearing. He also asks for specific reasons for withholding any “privileged” information about the AKP project. AKP and the utility companies have withheld the price of the fuel in the proposed 20-year fixed price per gallon contract that would raise electric bills on O`ahu and the Big Island. 

      The Consumer Advocate asks for the hui to “state all claimed privileges and objections to disclosure; state all facts and reasons supporting each claimed privilege and objection; state under what conditions the Company is willing to permit disclosure to the Consumer Advocate (i.e. protective agreement, review at business offices, etc.), and if the Company claims that a written document or electronic file is not discoverable…identify each document or electric file…date, author(s) and addressee(s).”
      The Consumer Advocate also asks whether any additional infrastructure will be necessary to burn biodiesel supplied by AKP. He asks about the source of all inputs used in Hawai`i Electric Co.’s calculations and how they compare with inputs in HECO’s Integrated Resource Planning. Ono also requests an updated projected sales forecast and discussion on how it compares to the forecast in HECO’s integrated Resource Planning. He also asks for discussion on whether HECO has performed any analysis on the quantity and unit cost of firm resources (geothermal, use of oil and biofuel) assumed to be needed to complement intermittent resources (wind, solar and hydro).”
      The Consumer Advocate’s information request and other documents on the case are available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

      Deadline for the utilities and AKP to respond is Feb. 15.

The Directory 2013 is now available
throughout Ka`u.

MANAGEMENT OF KAWA and the more than 700 acres acquired by the county for a park and natural resources protection will be the subject of a meeting this evening at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Representatives of Hawai`i County have been meeting with the families with connections to the coastal area that is Ka`u’s favorite surfing beach as well as a shoreline fishing, hiking and picnicking area. The meeting is co-sponsored by the state Department of Land & Natural Resources.

THE DIRECTORY, the annual publication of The Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, is now available at many business and other public locations around Ka`u. The guide to Ka`u with business, community organization and governmental listings also features photos and stories of Ka`u. It can be found at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union offices in Pahala and Na`alehu, Bank of Hawai`i in Pahala and other locales across the district. Funds raised from advertising in The Directory are used for scholarships for Ka`u students. 

RED HAT LADIES OF KA`U and Ka Lae Quilters hold a Bake and Craft Sale at Ka`u Hospital on Friday at 10 a.m. Proceeds support improvements to the hospital’s emergency room. Contributions are welcome. Another sale is set for next Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. at Punalu`u. Call Barbara Beatty at 929-9072.

Tom Peek Photo from VAC

TOM PEEK HELPS WRITERS GET their stories, poems, essays and ideas out of their heads and onto the page at a workshop Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Open to all levels and genres; no writing experience is necessary. Fee is $85 or $76.50 for VAC members. Call 967-8222.

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

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Jan. 29, 2013

A public meeting on the future of Kawa takes place tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC CO. will abandon its proposed 4.2 percent ($19.8 million) rate hike for 2013, according to a statement issued yesterday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. It says the state and HECO reached a settlement “that will result in the withdrawal of a rate increase request for Hawai`i Island and a significant reduction in taxpayer dollars requested to cover project costs.”
      The settlement filed with the PUC on Jan. 28 outlines an agreement between the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Division of Consumer Advocacy and HECO, including subsidiaries Maui Electric Co., Ltd. and Hawai`i Electric Light Company, Inc.

      “With high oil prices driving up electricity and other costs throughout our economy, we have to take action to help Hawai`i’s families and businesses who are struggling to make ends meet,” Abercrombie said. “While this settlement will help in the short-term, we remain committed to pursuing long-term solutions toward clean energy alternatives.”
        HECO and subsidiaries will also reduce by $40 million the amount being sought for improvements to two major projects –the 110-megawatt biofuel generating station at Campbell Industrial Park on O`ahu and a new customer information system.
       In addition, HECO will also delay filing a 2014 rate case that was originally scheduled to be filed this year under the current regulatory framework for reviewing its rates.
       Consumer Advocate Jeffrey Ono said, “This settlement will benefit consumers and help reduce the ever-increasing cost of electricity.”
      The statement made no mention of a separate electric bill increase proposal by the utilities involving the proposal to build a refinery in Pahala to make biofuel.

COUNTY OF HAWAI`I IS DRILLING DOWN on `Aina Koa Pono specifics. The county is further questioning `Aina Koa Pono’s plan to produce diesel in Ka`u for a power plant in Kona. In a new round of information requests that were filed with the Public Utilities Commission, released yesterday, county Corporate Counsel Lincoln Ashida and County Attorneys William Brilhante, Jr. and Laureen Martin ask for presentations AKP makes to potential financiers. The county attorneys also make a statement about the plan to raise electric bills to pay for AKP: 

      “Having long-term contracts at high prices is attractive in any industry, but when electricity prices in Hawai`i are already the highest in the nation and eroding other industry-sector profits, there may be a net-negative effect to the economy from such contracts. Please explain the rationale behind raising electricity prices to support a single new industry sector that may decrease the profitability of other sectors.”

Hawai`i County asks for energy balance evaluations of the
AKP project, including delivery of biofuel to its final
destination. Photo from Mansfield Oil Co.

      The county also asks for Hawai`i Electric Light Co., Hawaiian Electric Co. and AKP to provide “energy balance evaluations for this project’s comprehensive process: beginning with agricultural inputs (manufacture, transportation to the islands) to agricultural production, harvest and processing of biomass intermediate steps and final production formulation, and delivery of biodiesel to its final destination.” The final destination is Keahole Power Plant and possibly other locations where the diesel would be used for transportation fuel.
      The county asks for details on how the proposed new microwave depolymerization process works, from engineering schematics to confirmation “of techno-economics and mass/energy balances.” The county asks for data from “demonstrated pilot operations (presumably from the North Carolina TekGar/SBS demonstration facility), including documentation of the number and duration of runs on which data are derived.”
      The county writes that if data are based on “feedstocks different than those anticipated to be used by AKP, then please include a description of how the composition of each type of feedstock compares, and what data are available on AKP’s anticipated feedstock.”
      The county also asks for descriptions “of how issues such as potential catalyst poisoning/regeneration might be handled (if relevant).”

Hawai`i County asks for more information on the
Micro Dee process.

      The county asks: “Does the MicroDee process directly produce biodiesel following the microwave depolymerization step or is the product pyrolysis oil that requires further upgrading to biodiesel? If the latter, then what is the composition of the pyrolysis oil (and variability in this composition based on the proposed feedstock or multiple anticipated feedstocks), what facilities will be required to upgrade the pyrolysis oil, will these facilities be on-site (and if not, where will upgrading be performed), and what will be the source of hydrogen to obtain the final biodiesel product?”
      The county attorneys ask: “Could this product be called green diesel or simply renewable diesel?”
      “Have any additional transportation costs and raw material (especially hydrogen) costs been incorporated in the analysis?”
      The county asks AKP and the utilities to present the “predicted final overall economics.”
      “When electricity is finally made by the proposed process, is the net energy balance positive or negative, and is the total amount of petroleum input per kilowatt-hour more or less than if the electricity had been made by using the petroleum directly, or if the biomass were simply burned?”
      “Is there a potential that this project will potentially increase the islands’ reliance on imported petroleum?”

Hawai`i County asks for more information on feedstock AKP would use
as biomass to refine biofuel.

      The county also asks AKP and the utility companies to identify the specific feedstocks that AKP proposes to grow on the land between Pahala and Na`alehu. “Assuming it is a grass, has this grass previously been cultivated as a commercial crop on the island? If not, have trial plots been grown at all? If so, then please describe the size, location, soil characteristics, altitude, ground slope, and actual rainfall at these plots.
      “If there is no prior commercial experience with this grass, please describe the program to introduce this grass and to determine its optimal agronomics – including anticipated amounts of fertilizer, potential disease and insect pressure and how this will be managed, response to differing soils/altitudes/slopes/rainfall amounts.”
      The county notes that “multi-year projects have been undertaken on the mainland to subsidize farmers as they gain experience with a new crop – switchgrass – including a recently complete four year project … which, by the way, has left farmers at a loss whether to continue growing switchgrass.”
      The county attorneys ask: “Has the AKP/MircroDee process been tested on that particular biomass/feedstock (as different kinds of biomass can give very different results)?”
      The county asks for comparative anticipated biomass yields per acre with actual experience in Hawai`i. “Convert these actual yields into estimates of how many cultivated acres will be required, and how many total acres this implies – along with required infrastructure (roads), supply yards, storage.”
      The county notes that if “AKP proposes making 16 million gallons (of diesel from feedstock grown) on 12,000 acres, the AKP numbers imply production rates of 1,333 gallons per acre (per year). It’s obvious this is much higher than other sources, about three times more productive than palm oil…. Please explain such productivity.” The county points to the AKP website saying that the Big Island facility would generate approximately 3,500 gallons of biofuel per acre - seven times more productive than biodiesel from palm oil. The county asks the utilities and AKP to describe how the projection of 3,500 gallons per acre is derived.

      The county asks from where AKP’s projected 900 dry tons of feedstock that would be needed per day of feedstock would come. “How many cubic yards of harvested material is this equal to or simply how many wet tons of feedstock do you have to produce to make a dry ton of biomass? (A dry ton is often confusing as you cannot grow dry biomass, and you have to grow, harvest, transport and handle a lot of wet material in order to end up with a ton of dry biomass),” the county attorneys write. 

      Should AKP plan to purchase feedstock from farmers, the county asks, “please provide the projected amount that growers will be paid per dry ton of feedstock.” The county attorneys ask, “How does this compare with possible alternative fuels (i.e. – opportunity cost)?”
      “Will AKP enter into a 20-year contract with growers? How will AKP handle situations where there is crop failure, inadequate yield and/or if growers decide to produce other crops?”
      The community group Life of the Land and other government agencies are also asking more questions of AKP and the utilities. See www.puc.hawaii.gov and click on documents under `Aina Koa Pono.
      The utility companies and AKP have until Friday, Feb. 15 to answer the county’s questions.

Sen. Roz Baker

THE STATE SENATE Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Energy and Environment held an informational briefing this morning in the state Capitol auditorium to receive information on factors that impact electric rates, the rate-making process and to identify potential solutions to reduce the adverse impacts of increasingly high electric rates on consumers statewide.
       “As electrical rates continue to climb, it is important for us to look for ways that could reduce rates and help lessen the burden of high utility costs on our constituents,” said Sen. Roz Baker, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
       A statement said the committee is interested in information about efforts to create an integrated electrical grid using available renewable energy and firm power to benefit consumers with lower rates and reach our green energy goals efficiently and cost-effectively.

Tonight's After Dark in the Park focuses on volcano
monitoring equipment. Photo from USGS/HVO

       “We want to hear the strategies the PUC and the utilities plan to use to incorporate more renewable energy onto the grid,” said Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment. Invited to participate were Public Utilities Commission Chair Mina Morita, Consumer Advocate Jeff Ono,
      Hawaiian Electric Co. vice president Robbie Alm; Hawai`i Electric Light Co. president Jay Ignacio and the heads of the Kaua`i and Maui electric utilities.

VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH continues at After Dark in the Park this evening when Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s chief technical support specialist Kevan Kamibayashi explains the installation and operation of HVO’s various monitoring sensors and how their signals are sent back to the observatory from remote locations. The free program at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park begins at 7 p.m. $2 donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

Ka`ohu Monfort demonstrates la`au lapa`au.
Photo from NPS

LA`AU LAPA`AU IS THE TOPIC tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Ka`ohu Monfort shares her knowledge of how Hawai`i’s native plants, including noni, kukui and olena can heal and nourish. The program is free, and park entrance fees apply. 

HAWAI`I COUNTY AND THE STATE Department of Land & Natural Resources hold a public meeting on the future of Kawa tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. County representatives have been meeting with local families to help plan the management of the more than 700 coastal acres recently acquired by the county through state and federal funding to protect estuaries and through county property taxes.

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

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.