HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-02 Dr. Susanne Bennett Support TestimonyFrom: Dr. Susanne Bennett
To: Planning WPC Testimony
Subject: Strong Support for Bill 170 – Request to Strengthen the Data Center Definition
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 8:45:41 PM
Aloha Windward Planning Commissioners,
My name is Dr. Susanne Bennett and I live in Kailua-Kona. I am writing in strong support of
Bill 170 and asking the Windward Planning Commission to recommend one additional strengthening change before sending it back to the County Council.
The original Bill 170 language uses subjective phrases such as “industrial-scale operation” and “beyond that typically accessory or incidental to office, commercial, or public institutional
uses.” These terms could leave unnecessary room for interpretation. I support replacing that subjectivity with objective physical criteria and a clear 20-megawatt threshold.
I respectfully ask that the definition include language substantially as follows:
“Cooling, power, and support infrastructure, including but not limited to servers, network
equipment and appliances, telecommunications equipment, data storage systems, systems for monitoring and managing infrastructure performance, environmental controls, fire protection
systems, security systems, electrical substations, generators, and redundant power supplies; and which requires or is designed to require 20 megawatts or more of electrical capacity at full
build-out.
This definition includes a single facility and any campus of multiple facilities on contiguous or
adjacent parcels under common ownership or control whose combined electrical demand meets or exceeds 20 megawatts.
This term includes facilities commonly described as large-scale, hyperscale, neocloud, and artificial intelligence data centers and colocation campuses.
This term does not include telecommunications facilities regulated under Section 25-4-12, hospital or government data systems, university educational and research facilities, or business
offices in which servers are incidental to the primary use.”
I chose Hawaiʻi Island because of its extraordinary natural environment and quality of life.
Our freshwater, agricultural lands, energy resources, and relatively small island infrastructure are precious and finite. Once large industrial demands are placed on these resources, the
consequences can affect everyone who lives here.
As a Hawaiʻi Island resident, I am already very conscious of the extraordinarily high cost of
electricity and the limitations of our electrical grid. I do not believe our residents should have to compete with hyperscale data centers for electrical generation, grid capacity, water, or other
essential infrastructure.
I also believe Hawaiʻi Island has an opportunity to act proactively rather than waiting until a
hyperscale data-center proposal is already before the County. Protecting the island now is far easier than attempting to address the environmental and infrastructure consequences after such
facilities have been constructed.
Please recommend the strongest possible version of Bill 170 to the County Council and ensure
that the definition is sufficiently clear and objective to prevent hyperscale and AI data-center campuses from circumventing its intent.
Mahalo for your service and for protecting the long-term resources and resilience of Hawaiʻi Island.
Best regards,
Dr. Susanne Bennett
clinic 310.315.1514
purigenex 877.787.4469
www.drsusanne.com
www.purigenex.com
Author of #1 International Best Seller- The Kimchi Diet, Mighty Mito and The 7-Day Allergy Makeover
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