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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PWMTC 2019/06/18 2018-2020Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit 9th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii June 18, 2019 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit ORDER: was called to order at 3:42 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Ms. Karen Eoff, Member, Member Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Change Order of Business: ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS: The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. The Chair called Abalghassem Abraham Sadegh, who registered to comment in regards to Comm. 330, and came forward when called. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you. Here in Kona, I don't see any testifiers. With that, I'm going to close public testimony. In an effort to manage our agenda, what I'd like to do if I don't hear any objections, is take Resolution 190-19 first and then followed by Communication 330. As directed by the Chair and with no objection from the Council Members, the following item was taken out of order: The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order of Resolutions. PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 Res. 190-19: ACCEPTS THE DEDICATION OF LOT 2, HOKULIA PHASE 3 EAST, PART B LARGE LOT SUBDIVISION, IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEY NO.: 8-1- 036:002, SITUATED ALONG THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF HALEKII AND KE`EKE`E 1sT, DISTRICT OF SOUTH KONA, ISLAND AND COUNTY OF HAWAII, STATE OF HAWAII, FROM 1250 OCEANSIDE, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY The landholder seeks to provide two acres of land abutting the north side of Kona Scenic Park for public purposes. Reference: Comm. 316 Intr. by: Ms. Lee Loy (B/R) Motion to Approve: Mr. Richards moved to recommend adoption of Res. 190-19. Seconded by Ms. Eoff. CHR. LEE LOY: Any discussion? I'm going to ask Ms. Villegas, I understand that this is actually in your district. If you wouldn't mind? MS. VILLEGAS: Sure, and I'd like to invite Mr. Vitousek up here to share some information. It's my understanding that this has been a project in the works for a long time. Dru Kanuha worked on it, my predecessor, and I'm extremely grateful that you're here today. And we're reaching for fruition on this project, so if you wouldn't mind sharing? (Note: At this time, Cultural Resource Manager for 1250 Oceanside LLC, developer of Hokuli`a, Mike Vitousek came forward to address the members of the Committee MR. VITOUSEK: My name is Mike Vitousek, I'm a Cultural Resource Manager with 1250 Oceanside, the developer of Hokuli`a. And, yeah, we're just really happy that this is moving forward. It has been a few years that we're been working with the County Parks and Recreation staff to get this Kona scenic park expansion parcel dedicated. I think it's going to be huge asset for the community. I bring my girls there all the time. You know, we've parked in the area before it was closed off and looking forward to it being reopened and maintained by the County for parking. That way we won't have overflow parking onto Haleki`i and into the neighborhood there. I think it's going to be a really good thing and we're looking forward to it. Also, I just wanted to say that one of the community members who advocated for this is Auntie Cynthia Nazara who has recently passed away. But this is something that was really important to her, and I'm just happy that we can keep that moving forward. MS. VILLEGAS: Thank you and I agree and wanted to mention Cynthia Nazara, and so grateful for her leadership and her care for this place. And I think this is a Page 2 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 phenomenal legacy of her love for this land and for the park there. So I just ask for your support in accepting this property. Mahalo. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you Ms. Villegas. Any other members? Seeing none, Mr. Vitousek, thank you for being here. You know, this resolution is very straight forward. It satisfies Condition (N) of a Zoning Ordinance. And you know, as Ms. Villegas said, it really is a much needed park for the area. So with that I'll go ahead and take the vote. All those in favor, please say "aye." Vote on Res. 190-19: The motion to recommend adoption of Res. 190-19 was (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. MR. VITOUSEK: Thank you so much. CHR. LEE LOY: Mr. Clerk, Communication 330. Return to Order The Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 330: REQUESTS AN UPDATE BY THE MASS TRANSIT AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT REGARDING PLANS TO UTILIZE ELECTRIC AND/OR HYDROGEN BUSES From Council Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, dated June 5, 2019. CHR. LEE LOY: Motion to close file please? Motion to Close File: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder moved to close file on Comm. 330. Seconded by Mr. Richards. CHR. LEE LOY: Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, please lead the discussion on this? MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So, I'm asking for an update from Mass Transit and unfortunately, Brenda Carreira is off -island right now or on vacation. Ron Withmore wasn't available but Riley Saito was available and he brought some friends and they have a presentation to put on for us regarding this communication. So if you want to come up gentlemen and lead the discussion Page 3 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 and give us some information on what you have so far? Do you need a minute to set up? CHR. LEE LOY: Just for the record, I understand Mr. Yamamoto, Ms. Tiffany Kai and Mr. J Yoshimoto is in our Hilo office. So if you guys have other questions, we also have them in our Hilo office. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, go ahead. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: So Riley, if you could just kind of break down what you have so far. I know you'll put on a nice presentation for us and I'd like to see what you have, and then we'll do some follow-up questions. MR. SAITO: Yeah, so I'm Riley Saito, Energy Specialist with Research and Development, and this is Mitch Ewan with Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI). And why don't you give them a little bit about your background. MR. EWAN: Mitch Ewan, I'm the Hydrogen Systems Program Manager. I've been in Hydrogen for about 30 years; built the world's first Pam Fuel Cell powered car back in 1989-ish. So, I've been at HNEI for the last 18 years. We started this project here for the Big Island almost ten years ago. It's gone through multiple sites. I won't go through all of them but for now at NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority), we're maybe weeks from our Hydrogen station actually coming online. We have our first buses over on Oahu just going through its final commissioning. It's a 29 -passenger fuel cell hybrid bus, brand new. It looks awesome and so as soon as my hydrogen station is up and running, we'll bring the bus over here, and then we'll do final commissioning with some of our contractors just making sure all our software and communications equipment is working. So we're basically ready to go. It's a 29 -passenger, and fully ADA (Americans with Disability Act) compliant, and I upgraded the fuel cell; increased it from 30 kilowatts to 40 kilowatts. And we put in a power export unit, which allows that to be used in Civil Defense in case of a disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, because then the bus becomes a portable power supply. It's good for 30 hours. It can produce 10 kilowatts of 110, 220 full AC power, and then we can refill the bus in about 15, 20 minutes and you got another 30 hours. So, the concept is that all your buses can then be dual -tasked in emergencies become aide to the Civil Defense organizations to provide critical life-saving power to people that need to have that power. So for somebody on a dialysis machine or something like that, this bus can actually help them through these kinds of emergencies which we know we're going to have. So, I'll stop talking and let Riley get on with it because he's got some great pictures of some of the equipment. Page 4 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 (Note: At this time, Department of Research and Development Energy Specialist Riley Saito and Mitch Ewan of Hawaii Natural Energy Institute came forward and provided a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of subject presentation, see the DVD copy of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is made a part of the record, see Comm. 330.1.) MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Well, I think the timing couldn't be better on this discussion because as we walk into GE (General Excise) and some of the influx of the money we're going to be having if we can start to move towards this no, I don't actually want to say if we can, I want to move towards implementing hydrogen buses in lieu of diesel, and in lieu of even electric, and go one step further. If we can commit, and we're not even committing, because we're just following up on HRS (Hawai`i Revised Statues) and right, State statutes and County statutes that we've already kind of set in place to start doing this. And I just haven't seen the movement as of yet. I know it's coming, well we have three buses and the infrastructure now. So I would like to push very hard as a Council. And this is just a communication but in the future I would like to have everyone support, if can, in helping Mitch and Riley and get this hydrogen kind of revolution off the ground in the County. So, I'm going to let this one go. I want you guys to have your discussion. I appreciate your time, thank you. I know it's been a little bit late. And thank you so much for waiting today. I know it was a bit lengthy this afternoon. MS. VILLEGAS: Aloha. Thank you guys for being here. I also just wanted to give a quick shout -out to someone who was very instrumental on the west side of the Big Island, Guy Toyama. And we lost him a number of years ago, but he was a close friend. He was a passionate advocate for hydrogen energy. And in fact, I remember him riding around on a moped powered by hydrogen. MR. SAITO: I found the moped. It's in San Francisco. MS. VILLEGAS: It is? MR. SAITO: Yeah, I was trying to get it here, but it's like $2,500 to ship because they have to crate it up, but I have the email address of the guy who has it. MS. VILLEGAS: So, I know he's smiling down right now and incredibly proud and grateful that his legacy and these ideas are coming to fruition. So, thank you for your hard work and dedication and your persistence. And I'm really excited for the potential for our island. Page 5 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 MR. SAITO: Actually, the pieces are just falling in. It's like the timing was right. MS. VILLEGAS: Well, that's when we know that things are doing what they're supposed to be doing. Thanks Guy. MR. SAITO: And there's like six investors interested in that third -party partnership. MS. VILLEGAS: And I'm also incredibly heartened to hear that there's opportunity for some economic development and some manufacturing, and just closing that circle and brining it all together and providing opportunity for us to become a model for renewable energy. Thank you. MR. EWAN: It'll give our young people a really neat and fun kind of technology to work in. And this is the future. I mean it's actually the present now. MR. SAITO: Yeah, that'll be like, let me go repair that bus. MR. EWAN: So, yeah, it's a very good opportunity. We could actually be exporting buses to Oahu if we play this right. MS. VILLEGAS: Really exciting. Thanks you guys, and Guy would be really happy. Aloha. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Villegas. Ms. Kierkiewicz, please? MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Oh, don't run away yet. I have questions for you. This is really exciting for me because my dad owned a gas station and a junkyard, and so we had a fleet of old Mercedes Benz that would, guess what, run on used vegetable oil that I was tasked to pick up, because he hated paying for my diesel bill every month. It was pretty outrageous in his eyes, so we picked up veggie oil, filtered that; we ended up making biodiesel and that was great fun. And you know, I've worked with some energy projects over the years, so I've always had a soft part in my heart for how our State essentially is leading on the clean energy front, and this seems like a no-brainer. I mean we're in prime time in every single article that I've read. Mitch you are basically a rock star in the hydrogen world. So, thank you for your dedication and commitment. And thank you Riley for an excellent presentation. You know, when I think about our clean energy goals. Two-thirds of the imports of fossil fuel are related to transportation. And so it seems really critical that we move on this really quickly. I noticed that we had acquired a bus or were going to acquire a bus in 2014-15, $700,007,000, as a County. There was hydrogen bus. Maybe Tiffany Kai can answer. Page 6 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 MR. EWAN: I think that's my bus. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That's your bus? That's on Oahu? So we ordered it a few years ago? MR. EWAN: About six years ago. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: And we've been waiting on the infrastructure, and it was my understanding that we were Looking at either partnering with Puna Geothermal or working with Volcanos National Park. But because of the recent situation, we had to shift, and it makes sense to actually be at it now, which is a proving ground for many different technologies. So the infrastructure I found was made possible by grants from U.S. Department of Energy, $2 million. And the State as well as Naval Research, $3 million. Are we looking at that sort of money to be used to create infrastructure at our Hilo baseyard? MR. EWAN: No, a lot of that money was development money for R&D (Research and Development), a non-recurring engineering. So we have, you know, an industry has equipment out there now. The cost has gone down. For example, on the electrolyzers, because of some larger orders on the mainland, the cost of electrolyzers has going down by 40 percent. And similarly with the bus, you saw the curves on the bus, they're coming down. They used to be about $2 million to buy a bus, now they're down below around $750, 000. Like three short years from now, they're going to be at parity with the diesel bus. And so, you know, they haven't had the volumes of buses yet. As soon as the volumes start going up, which they're going to start going up now, you're going to see the prices of those buses come down dramatically. The fuel cells have come down dramatically and they're better. Like the fuel cell, I've upgraded the MTA (Mass Transit Agency) bus, and I want to upgrade the two Volcano buses, because I went to my boss and said, you know, failure is not an option here. I do not want a bus to fail on the road full of passengers and then, you know, get all the bad press out of it. We want these things to work right out of the box and so that's what we did. And we upgraded with really state-of-the-art technology. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: That's excellent. I think our residents, visitors, they really do deserve reliable transportation, and it's a perfect opportunity to really dovetail with the Mass Transit implementation plan that we have before us. I was really interested when you talked about capturing the methane from the Landfill, how we can turn that liability into an asset. So what would it cost to put in the infrastructure to be able to harness that methane and turn it into hydrogen? Page 7 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 MR. EWAN: We don't have those numbers yet. This is a new development thanks to Riley. His brainpower, give him full credit for that. And we'll work out a budget. I don't want to throw out numbers that I can't back up. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Yeah, no, just curious. And then is work being done in partnership with the utility? I mean I can imagine that there is a lot of excess energy from renewable. So capturing some of that curtailed energy to power efforts at NELHA. Just curious. MR. EWAN: Yeah, HELCO (Hawai`i Electric Light Company) is actually very efficient, and four or five years ago, there was a lot of curtail wind particularly at South point. Now they're down to about less than one percent of curtailed power, so there's not that much. Now, one percent of everything they produce is still a lot of power, but we have not had a detailed conversation. They're aware of the project, but we weren't ready to actually get into heavy conversation with them. In a way, we're a bit of a threat to them, the electrification of transportation. They want to put an electrical vehicle charging station at every corner, and you know, this project here, we don't have to do that. So, we'll have to see how it shakes out. Hopefully, my original research plan with the electrolyzers to use it as a variable load so that we can manage good frequency. And so you're providing a service to the grid, but at the same time you're making hydrogen for transportation. I hope that they're going to see that to their benefit at some point in the future, but they're not there yet, so—in my opinion anyway. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Yeah, that's helpful to know. We must be a threat to Elon Musk, too. Okay, and then you're going to be collaborating with the educational institutions, UH (University of Hawai`i), HCC (Hawai`i Community College), Palamanui. Because it seems like there's potential to really harness a new workforce when we take a look at a potential new industry for us. MR. EWAN: Yeah, we really want to look at workforce development. So for example, I want to upgrade the two Volcano buses. And one of my ideas is to use the MTA (Mass Transit Agency) staff to be involved in the conversion of those vehicles so they actually have hands on. It's kind of like training the trainer. And yes, then we have to look at our community colleges and getting courses in there. Now that we have actual equipment on the ground, it makes it more viable instead of it being vaporware. And so now we're ready to go and look at the workforce development program here in Hawaii and see how we can leverage that for the Big Island. And so we have a community college here, right, pretty close to where we are and that's a good place to start. Page 8 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, you mentioned that there's a potential for a public-private partnership to convert the diesel buses. And so, I wonder if that would extend to regular everyday vehicles that Council Members and other residents drive as well? MR. EWAN: They convert heavy-duty vehicles right now. Really, the OEM's (original equipment manufacturer), the light-duty vehicles, the cars, that's being taken care of by them. So, you can go and buy—we found out the other day we can buy a used Mirai from California for $16,000. But, US Hybrid, which is the company we've been dealing with for several years. I mean, they're down to the van level. So they do Ford Transit vans, so we look at that for, you know, transit van operations for MTA as well. And they've done all the non-recurring engineering which is quite expensive. So they're down to just turning them out. And we can do that here. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: So exciting, I will be supporting anything that comes before the Council and is put forth by R&D to really move this forward. I mean, what a huge opportunity to be able to diversify our energy portfolio and just be a leader for the rest of the world. And it makes so much sense given our location and our isolation. So, thank you both. I yield. MR. SAITO: To clarify how it is, because when I first heard about it in December from the Energy Conference we had, it was like, so why wouldn't people be doing this? And the question is always, and I looked it up, there's like people who always say they don't have hydrogen, there's no fuel. So then there's no vehicles. And it's the chicken and egg thing. So then, the perfect situation we're in right now is Mitch has provided the fuel. And it's more fuel than the one bus needs. So now you've got three eggs and one chicken, right? And then so, we need more chickens. So, we get more buses. And then, we can scale it out with the bus and the fuel. So as we go through and convert the methane, say that works out, we now have more fuel. So now we can convert the County fleet. We have control over supply and demand, so we have control over fuel protection and the offtake. And that's the unique situation that we're in. MR. EWAN: Yeah, my overall strategy was to develop the infrastructure and focus on buses and public transportation because right now we're asking government to, you know, prime the well and supply the money to do this. And I always thought that it's kind of a hard sell to our lower income citizens when we're building individual gas stations for rich guys who happen to be able to afford, you know, a light-duty car. Whereas by building our public infrastructure up and our bus transportation system, everybody has equal access to that bus. And so you're giving the people that need it a really, really good transportation system to get them to work or wherever they have to go. Plus, you know, just Page 9 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 passively they're learning about hydrogen. So, it's a great outreach tool. So, we're really leveraging, you know, the investment that the government is making. And at some point, we'll be making—it'll be attractive enough for private industry to take it over. And it's the perfect plan and sort of the concepts that Riley gave us today of how we're leveraging public-private partnerships in this new legislation that we got in for transportation services. That is an unbelievable way to go. He's got investors lined up. I mentioned this to the U.S. Department of Energy. They want to know all about it; how we're doing it. They want to spread this out to the rest of the U.S. In fact, we can do this globally, like all the islands, nations; every nation should know about this kind of a concept. So I can see, you know, it was hatched right here. Little `ole wine drinking, you know, Big Island. And we've expanded this around the world. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: I mean it's just music to my ears. I mean I often talk about how we start to budget for outcomes, and this is the outcome I want to see, that we have a reliable transportation that, you know, is not emitting anything harmful into our environment. And it's something that we can export out into the world. Just you know, spurring our local economy. It's all very exciting. And so we've got a cash count now with the increase in the GET surcharge. And so that is reliable funding, at least for the next ten years. And so, I hope we make smart investments into things like hydrogen. So, thank you. MR. EWAN: Thank you. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Chair Chung please. MR. CHUNG: Thank you. You know, I agree with everything that's being said. This really carries so many exciting prospects. Quite frankly, just looking at Matt and the excitement that he was showing. I don't know if you guys could see it, but I saw him from here, and he just looked more excited about this than I've seen him on any other matter that's come before this Council. So, yeah, I'm certainly going to be supporting R&D or Matt or whomever in pursuing this further. But you know, to just put the brakes on this lovefest though, for a minute as it relates to our buses specifically, you know, I just want for the record to understand whether there are going to be any hidden costs. You know, maybe two years from now, five years, ten years related specifically to the buses. As well as what our maintenance responsibilitiesI mean, do we have the capability to maintain these—we're going to have training? And if so, you know, on what kind of continual basis? Those are my questions, but you know, it's not Page 10 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 to be an obstructionist or anything. Certainly, you know, I'm going to support the initiative going forward, but I just wanted to make sure that, for the record, we get these types of information. MR. EWAN: Let me just answer on sort of a global basis. One of the reasons we're doing the HNEI project is to address all these issues. Once we have the bus here, then we'll work with the Hele-On bus service. Their mechanics, everybody. We'll operate the buses. We'll get first-hand experience. We'll get better data on what it cost to run them. How well they run. We've put into the budget that we talked about some budget to convert one of the bays to be able to handle servicing hydrogen buses at the main facility. And if we build a second facility here on the Kona side, which I hope we do. I thought that was a really good recommendation of the strategic plan. Then we could be able to service buses here. The company we work with, US Hybrid wants to set up a facility here: A, they're already in Hawaii. They've been in Hawaii for 20 years supporting the Air Force, and they have all the capability of providing the training, logistics, support, and everything required to maintain the drive training of these busses. And they're willing to commit to do that. So, quick answer, we'll see how it all works out. MR. SAITO: With US Hybrid, when he says 20 years, it's 20 years in Hawaii. They're on Oahu. They have facilities, they have people. They support the hydrogen fleet for the military. And they want to move here. MR. CHUNG: And hidden costs, if any? MR. EWAN: There'll be always hidden; they're still hidden from me. Basically, I have enough funding to support these buses for about a year, a year -and -a -half. You know, part of the deal I made with MTA is we'd actually provide the initial hydrogen fuel, so there'll be no surprises. And I think the real savior of the program, the thing that really makes it work is the landfill gas and converting that over to hydrogen. That makes the economics work. If we had to plug into the grid, at the cost of grid electricity, that would not be viable in my opinion. So this landfill situation makes it all viable and penciled out. MR. CHUNG: Okay, well thank you very much. I mean as I said, this is so exciting on so many levels, and I really want to thank both of you for being there and for Matt for bringing this to the Council as well. Thank you. MR. EWAN: You're welcome. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair Chung. Mr. Richards. Page 11 PWMTC-9 June 18, 2019 MR. RICHARDS: Thank you Chair. Well, first of all, thanks Mitch, Riley for being here. And Matt thanks for bringing this forward. These conversations have been going on for quite some time and it's starting to get very exciting. One of the things you touched on and I think it needs to be reiterated, is the high level of safety that we're talking about when we're dealing with this. And as we go forward, we just need to highlight the fact that this is striving towards our 2045 goal that we will attain. It is servicing a component of our community and our needs as a County as a whole as far as our Mass Transit. And I've got to agree with Riley, the timing, things are folding and falling into place bit by bit. So I completely appreciate that, and I look forward to getting this all put together. Riley, you're description of using the methane I find fascinating and that folds into some other things that Matt and I have been talking about. So look forward to articulating that a little bit better as we come forward. This is the right step, right direction. The day is getting long. I'm not going to speak longer, I yield. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you Mr. Richards. Anyone else? Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, please take us home. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: I did want to mention to Mr. Richards, in the Maui conference we had, the HSAC, Stan Osserman. Well, I guess you're in touch already. He was explaining that the Fire Department had tested some of the vehicles. Hydrogen versus gasoline, and they actually were surprised to find that they felt safer approaching a vehicle that ran on hydrogen versus gas. And that was an eye opener for me, because when you think hydrogen, I see a hydrogen bomb and I see people just "poof," you know, but in reality, it's not like that at all. And that was an eye opener, and that public safety, changing the public's perception of hydrogen and what's scary and what's not scary is going to be key. So, thank you for saying that Mr. Richards. I wanted to mention that and I forgot. You had a quick video on that too. MR. SAITO: It wasn't running in here. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: But you can see the difference, it's night and day. MR. EWAN: So, I'd like to make a comment. About four or five years ago, we actually conducted training for your first responders here on the Big Island over a three-day period. I think we trained about 150 of them, and it was more than just the hydrogen vehicle, it was an electric vehicle. They had not had formal training on, you know, what do you do when you come up to an electric vehicle. What wires do you cut, how do you get people out of it, and all that kind of stuff Page 12 PWMTC-9 Vote on Comm. 330 June 18, 2019 But the firemen were really positive about their experience. And dealing with hydrogen fires, they were not concerned at all. I mean, you know, you have to treat it well. You have to follow the codes and standards. We work with your Planning Department and your permitting department on getting our station permitted and educating them on what the codes and standards were, which you know, it's a pretty thick book on the codes and standards. And they went through that and so we provided some training for them as well. So, we now have the experience, you know, with your code officials. And so the people that follow us will have a much easier time, I think, of getting these facilities. And we will have an easier time at getting these facilities permitted and getting them through the planning process. But we need to have some now, refresher training, and you know, set up continuous training on hydrogen safety. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Really, I haven't seen you smile this big the entire six months we've been in office. But thank you for bringing this forward. Like Mr. Chung, I too will be supporting whatever initiative you bring forward. But I also want to, as food for thought, not have you forget that you sit as the Vice Chair for Mass Transit, but as the Vice Chair for Energy. So as the tip of the spear where these two places would converge, it might be even worth convening an ad hoc committee as how we can begin to develop not only the Mass Transit system, but the infrastructure that goes with it, meaning our energy sustainability goals. And I see Mr. Richards just grinning. I think you stand at the tip of the spear for us on this one. So with that, we have a motion to close file on Communication 330. All those in favor please say "aye." The motion to close file on Comm. 330 was carried by the (Filed): following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Chung — 1. Excused: None. BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) Page 13 PWMTC-9 June 18,2019 CHR. LEE LOY: Alright, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 4:51 p.m., Mr. Richards moved to adjourn the MENT: meeting. Seconded by Ms. Eoff and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members David, Eoff, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy— 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Chung— 1. Excused: None. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you. Approved: ��h `�► q) asoo L. K. Lee Loy, (Date) • s and Mass Transit Co ee SL/dt Page 14