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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 127 Draft 01 1992-1994OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: N/A Action: Filed in Catmittee Re: Res. 127-93/C-160.01 COUNTY OF HAWAti --STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. 127 53 WHEREAS, HELCO being the only electrical utility franchised providing electric power to the Island of Hawaii, is currently proposing to expand its 20 megawatt facility due to its near term generating capacity shortfall; and WHEREAS, in its own study for a site selection conducted in 1988, HELCO identified Kawaihae and Puu Anahulu as its most desirable sites and Keahole as one of its less desirable sites; and WHEREAS, in their attempts to meet their projected peak demand in 1994, HELCO has unreasonably focused its attention on Keahole, the less desirable site for the additional capacity; and WHEREAS, the lands on the Keahole site are in the State's Conservation District and may be of high historical, cultural and intrinsic value; and WHEREAS, a facility of this size near Kona's airport would depreciate the beauty of the area and would block major view planes, leaving an unattractive first impression to our island's visitors; and WHEREAS, the storage of half a million gallons of diesel fuel would necessitate the trucking of twelve tankers daily from Kawaihae to the Keahole site raising concern for the site's feasibility and safety; and WHEREAS, the close proximity of the Keahole site to residential areas and the proposed university site would create hazardous conditions stemming from noise, unacceptable levels of fumes and exhaust, and the risk of cancer from the high-tension wires emitting electromagnetic radiation; and WHEREAS, because of the present status of the following indicators, HELCO's proposal to expand its Keahole Plant should be reconsidered: (1) Waimana Enterprises has recently negotiated a lease from the Hawaiian Home Lands Commission for lands at Kawaihae to eventually build a power plant at Kawaihae; (2) Other energy generating resources such as the hydro plant and geothermal are both on line and generating power; (3) Hamakua Sugar is continuing to produce power; (4) The projected rate of increase for growth and demand has been reduced substantially due to the economic recession. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it does not concur with HELCO'S desire to expand its proposed 56 megawatt facility at Keahole. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Hawaii, all of the Hawaii Island Legislators, the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the Planning Director, the Planning Commission Chairman, and the President of HELCO. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this day of 1993. COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii INTRODUCED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII ROLL CALL VOTE I I AYES I NOES I ABS I EX I I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on ATTEST: COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER Reference C-160' Ol/PC RESOLUTION NO. 127 ~3 JIM RATH Vice-Chairn~an Hilo Phone: (808) 961-8273 Fax: (808) 961-3291 Kona Phone: (808) 326-5684 Faz: (808) 326-5697 COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 February 2, 1995 T0: KEOLA CHILDS, CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON,lp~LANNING FROM: JIM M. RATH COUNCIL VI CHAIRMAN','yr~ RE: REQUEST F WITHDRAWAL OF RESOLUTION - THE EXPANSION OF KEAHOLE POWER PLANT Re: Res. 127-93 (C-160.01) I request that Res. 127-93 (Comm. 160.01), regarding HELCO's proposed expansion of its 56 megawatt facility at Keahole, be withdrawn. cc: Council Chairman