HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 300 Draft 01 2012-2014 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 30 14
A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS SENATE
BILL NO. 2583 AND HOUSE BILL NO. 2151,WHICH APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SPACE CENTER FOR EXPLORATION SYSTEMS FOR
JOINT STUDIES WITH THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE
ADMINISTRATION FOR A LASER COMMUNICATIONS GROUND STATION IN
HAWAII.
WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 2583 and House Bill No. 2151 appropriate $500,000 for a
joint study with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for an engineering
assessment; and
WHEREAS, the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Studies (PISCES)
promotes economic development for Hawai`i Island and the State of Hawai`i; and
WHEREAS, NASA will establish a global network of next-generation laser
communications ground stations to increase its data transfer rate with spacecraft by 10 to 100
times the current rate; and
WHEREAS, Mauna Loa has been identified as a location for NASA's first lunar laser
communications ground station; and
WHEREAS, infrastructure construction for this $20 million laser communications
ground station would begin in 2016, following the completion of site studies, environmental
assessments and permit approvals; and
WHEREAS, the successful operation of a$20 million proof of concept laser
communications ground station will support the construction of a future $200 million permanent
laser communications ground station in Hawai`i to provide a high-bandwidth link for spacecraft
from low Earth orbit to the outer planets and deep space; and
WHEREAS, a NASA-funded laser communications ground station will stimulate
economic development with high technology jobs and investment from NASA; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 2583 and House Bill No. 2151 will make funds available
only if NASA provides matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai`i County Council supports PISCES, economic development and
the advancement of space technology in Hawai`i; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Hawaii State Legislature is urged to pass Senate Bill No. 2583 and House Bill No. 2151, which
appropriate funds for a joint study with PISCES and NASA for a laser communications ground
station in Hawai`i.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Governor Neil Abercrombie; the Honorable Senate President Donna
Mercado Kim; the Honorable House Speaker Joseph Souki; the Honorable Senator Will Espero;
the Honorable Senator David Y. Ige; the Honorable Representative Clift Tsuji; and the
Honorable Representative Sylvia Luke.
Dated at Kona , Hawai`i, this 19th day of February , 2014.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i EOFF X
FORD X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ILAGAN X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANUHA
County of Hawaii on February 19, 2014 X
KERN X
ONISHI X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X
WILLE X
YOSHIMOTO X
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-665/Waived GRIDC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 300 14
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