HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-15 Angela Roberts SupportFrom: Angie Roberts
To: Planning LPC Testimony
Subject: Hawaii County Bill No. 170 Draft 1
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 8:55:44 AM
Dear Members of the Hawaiʻi County Council and Planning Commission,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed construction of an industrial data center in Kailua-
Kona.
As a resident of Hawaiʻi Island, I am deeply concerned about the severe strain this type of industrial development
would place on our limited natural resources and fragile ecosystem:
* Resource Demands: Data centers require massive, continuous amounts of electricity to power their servers and
millions of gallons of freshwater daily for cooling infrastructure. Diverting these critical resources to support high-
density technology facilities threatens our island's already limited water supply and power grid resilience.
* Noise and Industrial Pollution: The continuous operation of industrial cooling systems and backup diesel
generators generates significant noise pollution and air emissions, directly impacting the health, peace, and quality
of life in our surrounding residential communities.
* Environmental Protection: Hawaiʻi Island's unique and vulnerable ecosystems cannot absorb the long-term
industrial footprint and resource drain caused by these large-scale operations.
I strongly urge you to vote in favor of land-use protections—such as Bill 170—to ensure industrial data centers are
explicitly prohibited from operating in West Hawaiʻi.
Thank you for your time, leadership, and dedication to protecting our island home.
Sincerely,
Angela Roberts