HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-02 Gabriel Katz Support TestimonyFrom: Gabe Katz
To: Planning WPC Testimony
Subject: Support for Bill 170
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 10:10:37 AM
Aloha Windward Planning Commission,
My name is Gabriel Katz and I’m a resident of Kailua-Kona. I am writing to submit my support of bill 170 in
banning the construction of new data centers in Hawaii / on Hawaii island. In addition to the exorbitant energy strain
such data centers would have on our already strained energy grid, the costs to our local ecosystems would be direct
and inconsequential. Hawaii’s islands already face severe threat of fires, which allocating any more water to non-ag
facilities would further exacerbate. Additionally, data centers often are loud and disrupt the natural communications
of bird and insect species which rely on sound across distances to carry out their ecological contributions.
Industrializing Hawaii further with new constructions like data centers is not in the public’s interests nor even in
Hawaii’s economic interests as it would inevitably poorly affect the beautiful nature of this place that brings in the
many tourists that supplement our economy.
Please pass bill 170.
Mahalo nui,
Gabriel