HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-21 Megan Lamson Testimony
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From: Megan Lamson Leatherman
To: Planning LPC Testimony
Cc: Kimball, Heather; Inaba, Holeka; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Villegas, Rebecca; Galimba, Michelle M.; Onishi, Dennis;
Hustace, James; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Alameda, Christian (Kimo);
generalpla@hawaiicounty.gov; Planning WPC Testimony
Subject: Testimony Bill 170 & Planning Department input
Date: Monday, September 21, 2026 11:56:37 AM
Aloha Leeward Planning Commission and Planning Department,
My name is Megan Lamson, and I am writing you from Honalo, Hawaiʻi. My testimony
addresses both the Leeward Planning Commission and the Planning Department
because you are asking the community for input on the same concerns
simultaneously.
I am asking our planning commissioners to reject the Planning Department’s
recommendation, which prematurely revises regulations before defining what a data center is. Their proposal currently lacks substantial safeguards. We must work to
clarify definitions before defining regulations.
I support the intent of Bill 170, section 1, and urge the Leeward Planning Commission to recommend a stronger definition of "data center" that distinguishes data-center
processing. The original bill defines a data center using subjective language that a
developer's attorney can easily argue around in court. I am asking the commission to
recommend an objective, airtight definition grounded in what the facility physically contains and how much power it draws.
Specifically, I am asking the commission to recommend this language:
"Data center" means a facility used for the industrial-scale operation of computer systems and associated equipment [for the processing, computing, transmission, or
dissemination of digital data] that requires supporting infrastructure beyond that
typically accessory or incidental to office, commercial, or public and private
institutional uses, including a single facility and any campus of multiple facilities under common ownership or control whose combined electrical demand meets or exceeds
5 megawatts.
Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Best,
Megan
Megan R. Lamson Leatherman, M. Sc.
PO Box 1127 | Kealakekua, HI | 96750
mleatherman77@gmail.com| lamson@hawaii.edu | meg.hwf@gmail.com
(c) 808-217-5777 | (w) 808-769-7629