HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0417.001 2014-2016Margaret Wille
Council Member
District 9 - North and South Kohala
Hawai `i County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
HAWAPI COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai `i
Holomua Center
64-1067 Mamalahoa Highway, Suite C-5
Waimea, Hawaii 96743
Phone No. Hilo: (808) 961-8027
Phone No. Waimea: (808) 887-2043
Fax No.: (808) 887-2072
E -Mail: mwille@co.hawaii.hi.us
West Hawaii Civic Center Bldg. A
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii ,96740
Please find attached proposed amendments to Resolution No. 249-15. The amendments
are illustrated below in Ramseyer format with respect to the contents of Resolution No.
249-15; (material to be deleted is bracketed and stricken; material to be added is
underscored):
1. The ninth WHEREAS clause is amended to read as follows:
"WHEREAS, as further geothermal energy production occurs, new production
facilities should be encouraged to be located in areas which are not in close proximity to
urban areas which are zoned for residential uses[;] or on lands designated by the State
Land Use Commission as being within the Conservation District; and
2. The enacting clause of Resolution No. 249-15 is amended to read as follows:
"BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that
the Planning Director consider the following proposals during the Director's review and
analysis of suggestions offered during this initial phase of the comprehensive review process
and ultimately incorporate them as possible, into the final proposed amendments to the
Hawaii County General Plan: Lil 1 ,
Comm. N .
Ref. To:. (0tkA0
Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Ref. ®este AUG 1 9 2019
Ilawai `i County Is An Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer
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TO:
Dru Mamo Kanuha, Council ChairM11-D
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and Members of the Hawaii County Council
FROM:
Margaret Wille, Council Member
DATE:
August 17, 2015
SUBJECT:
Proposed Amendments to Resolution No. 249-15; A Resolution Proposing an
Amendment to the County of Hawaii General Plan, in Accordance with
the
General Plan Comprehensive Review Process, Relating to Geothermal
Resources Development
Please find attached proposed amendments to Resolution No. 249-15. The amendments
are illustrated below in Ramseyer format with respect to the contents of Resolution No.
249-15; (material to be deleted is bracketed and stricken; material to be added is
underscored):
1. The ninth WHEREAS clause is amended to read as follows:
"WHEREAS, as further geothermal energy production occurs, new production
facilities should be encouraged to be located in areas which are not in close proximity to
urban areas which are zoned for residential uses[;] or on lands designated by the State
Land Use Commission as being within the Conservation District; and
2. The enacting clause of Resolution No. 249-15 is amended to read as follows:
"BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that
the Planning Director consider the following proposals during the Director's review and
analysis of suggestions offered during this initial phase of the comprehensive review process
and ultimately incorporate them as possible, into the final proposed amendments to the
Hawaii County General Plan: Lil 1 ,
Comm. N .
Ref. To:. (0tkA0
Serving the Interests of the People of Our Island Ref. ®este AUG 1 9 2019
Ilawai `i County Is An Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer
August 17, 2015
Page 2 of 4
1. Subject to the requirements of state law, the relevant Hawaii County Planning
Commission should have the authority to regulate future geothermal development in
Hawaii County;
2. Additional development of geothermal resources [sh&44] shall avoid, reduce, and
mitigate adverse impacts to [people] affected populations by the use of best available
control technology[;] to the maximum extent reasonably possible; and
3. Additional development of geothermal resources LO at not part of the previously
E)n
_Apil
fie
approved Geothermal Resewee Permit 2 i _'S
pessible-,] shall avoid urban areas zoned for residential use[.-] and those lands
designated ted by the State Land Use Commission as being within the Conservation
District."
A draft copy of Resolution No. 249-15, Draft 2, is attached with the proposed amendments
incorporated.
MW/dh
Att.
August 17, 2015
Page 3 of 4
A RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY OF HAWAII
GENERAL PLAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL PLAN
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS, RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL
RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Planning Director initiated a comprehensive review of
the County of Hawaii General Plan on February 6, 2015; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 16.1(3) of the General Plan, the Planning Director
established June 6, 2015 as the deadline for Council initiated amendments to the Plan during the
comprehensive review process; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the Council Planning Committee's request to postpone
this deadline, the Planning Director postponed the deadline for Council initiated amendments
until September 8, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Council submits this resolution in response to the Planning Director's
invitation to submit amendments to the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, amends Hawaii Revised Statutes,
section 269-92, to require each electric utility in the State of Hawaii to establish a 100 percent
renewable energy portfolio by 2045; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii Electric Light Co. seeks to increase its renewable energy portfolio
by adding up to 25 megawatts of geothermal energy; and
WHEREAS, the development of geothermal energy to help meet the energy needs of the
County of Hawaii has a promising future, as the production of energy through such
development has continued to occur safely, with near zero emissions, and has assisted in
lowering the cost of energy to consumers; and
WHEREAS, recent drilling operations by Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) has been
conducted in a manner consistent with best available control technology which significantly
reduced noise from drilling operations; and
WHEREAS, as further geothermal energy production occurs, new production facilities
should be encouraged to be located in areas which are not in close proximity to urban areas
which are zoned for residential uses or on lands designated by the State Land Use Commission
as being within the Conservation District; and
WHEREAS, an increased investment in geothermal resources development is anticipated
to occur on Hawaii Island; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Planning Director consider the following proposals during the Director's review and analysis of
suggestions offered during this initial phase of the comprehensive review process and ultimately
incorporate them as possible, into the final proposed amendments to the Hawaii County General
Plan:
August 17, 2015
Page 4 of 4
1. Subject to the requirements of state law, the relevant Hawaii County Planning
Commission should have the authority to regulate future geothermal development in
Hawaii County;
2. Additional development of geothermal resources shall avoid, reduce, and mitigate
adverse impacts to affected populations by the use of best available control
technology to the maximum extent reasonably possible; and
3. Additional development of geothermal resources shall avoid urban areas zoned for
residential use and those Iands designated by the State Land Use Commission as
being within the Conservation District.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Hawaii County Planning Director.