The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) has issued its first “true-up” for the Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) bonds. The true-up, a required element of the program approved by the Public Utilities Commission, is a periodic accounting … Continued
Moving Targets: Four years ago, the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative issued a “road map” identifying strategies for reducing the use of fossil fuels in the transportation sector. So how is that working out? Last month, the state released a draft … Continued
“This pathogen poses a serious threat to Hawai`i’s flagship native tree species whose loss would be catastrophic for the diversity, structure, and function of Hawai`i’s remaining native forests and the services they provide.” — “First Report of Ceratocystis wilt on … Continued
The rapid spread of the fungus killing `ohi`a on the Big Island is scary enough. The prospect that it could take down `ohi`a on other islands is a nightmare. How to stop it at the shores of Hawai`i island was … Continued
In mid-May, the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture’s Plant Pest Control Branch issued pest advisories on the hala scale, Thysanococcus pandani Stickney, and the bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris Burmeister. The hala scale was first detected in Hawai`i on trees in Hana, … Continued
At a recent meeting of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, veteran observers of the state Legislature summed up their take on the session that came to an end last month. “My optimism was shaken this session,” said Mark … Continued
In March, Environment Hawai`i provided details – to the extent they were available – of a state-administered program called GEMS, short for Green Energy Market Securitization. The program is intended, according to enabling legislation, to bring the blessings of solar … Continued
Warring `Aina Le`a Factions: The developer that began building the townhouses on the stalled `Aina Le`a project in South Kohala has sued the company that owns most of the land where the full build-out is to take place. The lawsuit … Continued
To some, it’s the stuff dreams are made of. An entrepreneur proposes to locate a high-tech industry on the Big Island, hire 4,200 high-paid ($90,000-a-year and up) employees, and invest tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure and equipment. Others … Continued
What were they thinking? They are the board members of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority. Last month, in what has mercifully turned out to be a meaningless exercise, six of them approved a 30-year leas of at least … Continued