HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0943.001 2006-2008
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From: jamesweathertord(gardengreen@hawaiiantel.net]
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 1:54 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Comm. 943: (Bill 225) 3
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COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: February 5, 2008 (Tuesday) CO
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 10:45 a.m.
Comm. 943: (Bill 225)
"AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 36, HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983
(2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RENAMING AND REDEFINING THE GEOTHERMAL RELOCATION PROGRAM TO
THE GEOTHERMAL RELOCATION AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM From Councilmember Emily Naeole,
dated January 18, 2008, transmitting the above bill."
This is to express support for the concept of putting these funds to work for community
benefit, and to continue to preserve the ability to use these funds for relocation.
The funds in question are increasing at a rate greater than is being demanded for
relocation. Investing the funds for community benefit is good management.
The community benefit should remain directly associated with the original purpose: to
abate negative impacts, including potential risks, associated with geothermal development
in a specific community.
Initially, the abatement of negative impacts took the form of relocation. The need for
capacity to quickly relocate negatively impacted households remains, and is suitably
provided for in the proposed amendment.
Importantly, such investment should be targeted to benefiting the community immediately
exposed to risks associated with geothermal development.
In the spirit of balancing the impacts of geothermal development, in addition to being
able to relocate negatively impacted households, it would also be appropriate to derive
community benefit through targeted investment in diminishment of risks from and
enhancement of positive impacts of geothermal development.
James Weatherford, PhD
PO Box 2017
Keaau, Hawaii 96749
808-982-5549
Comm. NM
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