Hu Honua Update: Talks between Hawaiian Electric Light Company, the Big Island electric utility, and principals of Hu Honua, owner of the power plant undergoing construction at Pepe`ekeo, north of Hilo, are ongoing. As Environment Hawai`i reported last month, the … Continued
The state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has issued orders that resolve – at least for now – two of the longest-festering matters before it. The first of these involves a series of Feed-In Tariff (FIT) projects, totaling more than 6 … Continued
Wespac’s Missing FAD: When the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council met in Guam last June, there was a lively discussion about the dearth of fish-aggregating devices (FADs) in waters around the island. The Guam Department of Agriculture and Wildlife said … Continued
The contested case hearing over the Thirty Meter Telescope is gearing up. It is set to begin in Hilo on October 11. But the sparring has already begun, and if the number of documents filed with the Department of Land … Continued
GEMS – the state’s Green Energy Market Securitization program – has a problem: It just can’t figure out how to spend the $144 million or so it has in the bank. But it keeps trying. Although the law setting up … Continued
The 2016 session of the Hawai`i Legislature will not go down as one notable for its environmental achievements. On the whole, few bills having a significant impact on the environment made it through to the finish line. Still, several measures … Continued
Spinner Dolphin Protection: Popular though the swim-with-dolphin tours in Hawai`i may be, they are believed by scientists to pose a threat to spinner dolphins themselves, disturbing their rest patterns and making them more vulnerable to predation by sharks. More than … Continued
An outdated and overpriced tariff scheme. An entrepreneur who exploited loopholes in a law intended to benefit small farms. And a residential community that is seething over the prospect of more than two dozen photovoltaic arrays, intended to generate more … Continued
The state of Hawai`i has settled a lawsuit brought by Bridge `Aina Le`a, LLC, which had claimed more than $30 million in damages as a result of a decision by the Land Use Commission to downzone acreage the company had … Continued
In the press release it issued at the conclusion of its June meeting, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council led off with comments from former council chair Manny Duenas. For years, Duenas represented Guam on the council. When he stepped … Continued