The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutRES 317 Draft 04 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII RESOLUTION STATE OF HAWAII 317 ~6 (Draft 4 WHEREAS, the local utility, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., has projected an energy shortfall for the North Kohala azea, and the island as a whole, over the coming years and has indicated an intention to move to fill that need with an "energy park" to improve electrical service reliability; and WHEREAS, the recent proposal from the local utility involved the construction of a diesel-powered generating station on the windward side of the North Kohala community, producing an exhaust effluent which would pollute the area for years to come; and WHEREAS, the North Kohala community, in open meeting with the local utility, showed overwhelming opposition to a polluting power plant, and has organized in an effort to participate in the decision-making process in a clear manifesto of its intention to self-determine its energy future; and WHEREAS, viable, cost-effective alternatives, such as conservation, wind, solaz, hydroelectric, bio-mass, hydrogen and battery storage technologies are being employed successfully around the world to meet local power needs, many of which aze documented by the Union of Concerned Scientists' recently published account of renewable energy systems currently working efficiently nationwide; and WHEREAS, the Big Island's dependence on imported oil to fill its energy needs places it at special risk for genuine civil defense emergency should world petroleum mazkets or shipping lanes be disrupted; and WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Legislature has passed legislation requiring local utilities to explore alternative energy solutions ,including conservation, as a strategy for becoming less dependent on unreliable world fossil fuel supplies in concert with an Integrated Resource Plan; and WHEREAS, conservation-oriented actions by individuals, companies and communities could significantly reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported and domestic oil and that significant portions of the electricity used in Hawaii could be saved by these measures; and WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission has directed the local utility to expedite the negotiation of purchase of power agreements with other local energy provider; and WHEREAS, the State Energy Resource Coordinator has said "energy conservation is Hawaii's least expensive, most accessible, largest and fastest growing energy alterative;" and WHEREAS, six thousand Hawaiian youth have gone on record as selecting a future Hawaii with a clean and pollution-free environment as their number one priority; and WHEREAS, there exists in North Kohala a population of aboriginal Hawaiians, who, in keeping with traditional beliefs, values, customs and practices, hold sacred the natural world of earth, air, fire, and water, believing these elements to embody their aumakua and ancestors, and in keeping with their tradition of Aloha ' Aina, believe that pursuing a "soft energy path" into the future would protect and maintain the integrity of their home for future generations; and WHEREAS, a wide range of new businesses, predicated on a pristine country environment, has emerged in North Kohala over the last few years, many of which could be placed at risk with a decline in air quality and perceived loss of country charm; and WHEREAS, North Kohala presents a rich and diverse resource base of wind, solar, water and bio-mass for a wide range of alternative power applications, possesses a dedicated talent pool capable of envisioning a sustainable energy plan for the area, and its citizens have demonstrated island leadership in calling fora 21st Century renewable, non-polluting solution to its future power needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it joins with the citizens of North Kohala to formally request the Hawaii State Legislature and the Governor to actively support an immediate full scale energy conservation education effort, followed by the thoughtful development of appropriate renewable, non- polluting and sustainable energy sources, such as solar, wind and other proven, cost-effective alternative energy technologies, as part of a collective, integrated strategy fora "soft energy path" into the 21st Century through community based collaborations with governmental agencies, the local utility and independent energy producers. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council supports the creation of a forum to address the above mentioned energy issues and that such a round table discussion would beheld in North Kohala, although not limited to issues facing the North Kohala community with regards to alternative energy development. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this Resolution to Governor Benjamin Cayetano; the President of the Senate, Norman Mizuguchi; the Speaker of the House, Joseph Souki; Senator Andrew Levin; Senator Richard Matsuura; Senator Malama Solomon; Representative Jerry Chang; Representative Eric Hamakawa; Representative Robert Herkes; Representative Virginia Isbell; Representative Dwight Takamine; Representative David Tarnas; the Director of DBEDT, Seiji Naya; the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, Yukio Naito; the Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy, Charles Totto; the President of Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., Warren H. W. Lee; and the Vice-President of Planning Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Edwazd Y. Hirata. Dated: Hilo, Hawaii, this 19th day of June 1996. INTRODUCED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII CO Co I hereby certify that the fo vote indicated to the right the County of Hawaii on ATTEST: R OLL CAL L VOTE NTY COUNCIL unty of Hawaii pyFS NOES ABS EX Silo, Hawaii Arakaki }~ Bonk-Abramson }{ regoing RESOLUTION was by the ~~ X hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of De Irma X June 19 1996 Domingo }{ , Osorio }{ Rath }{ ~/ + S' ~Y X ---~ / r (~ dry L( Smith X ~~/~ 8 0 1 U / e 0 r ~~~ ~~ COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER Reference C-1143.13 RDC-16 RESOLUTION NO. ~ ~' (Draft 4)