Hawaiian Electric Companies propose new community based renewable energy program
Rusting Wind Junk Coming to Waikiki--Second floating wind farm planned
KITV: There is already one offshore wind project proposed 17 miles off Diamond Head. The Danish company Alpha Wind announced those plans this summer.
However, KITV has learned that Progression Energy, a new player in Hawaii, is looking at a site just west of that.
The company hasn't released a lot of detail, even though it has been shopping this around for some time. The big question for the visitor industry is, what will you see off Waikiki? (Answer: Rusting and broken wind turbines.)
"What we are envisioning is about 400 megawatts of large scale wind far enough from Oahu so you can't see it unless you are looking for it, but close enough to Oahu so the cost of transmission makes for a low energy cost," said Holu Energy’s Ted Peck who is working with Progression.
Peck says it settled on an area just 16 miles off the Ala Wai with a potential view plane from Waikiki to Barbers Point....
The project would also need an undersea cable....
The company is submitting an application with the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy....
Background: Rusting Windfarm Junk off Waikiki: Europe's Disaster Coming to Hawaiian Waters
read ... Second floating wind farm planned for off Waikiki
'I told you so' -- Now Rail Proponents Should Apologize
HNN: It's become abundantly clear that Honolulu's rail project will be neither on time nor on budget. That should surprise no one.
It's a recurrence of other massive public transportation projects across the country, the combination of vigorous opposition and unexpected conditions, which has ruined the schedule and business plan.
For those who opposed the project - you're entitled to an "I told you so."
For those who claimed the plan was realistic - an apology would be appreciated....
read ... Rail 'I told you so'
Health Department Racks up Overtime While Failing to Spend Federal Money
SA: Managers of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund just can’t seem to spend federal dollars fast enough to improve Hawaii’s aging drinking water infrastructure, and took yet another hit this week when the feds withheld the state’s annual allotment of $8 million.
The fund stood at $100 million at the end of 2014,and the Environmental Protection Agency says the state Health Department, which administers the fund,simply isn’t hitting targets for drawing down the balance.
The EPA’s move is not just a slap on the wrist, and Health Department officials must take swift action to ensure the funds are released.
A Health Department official reassured that the EPA action is a temporary hold, but fund managers need to repair the program’s holes. The state is not in any position to lose a single dollar when an estimated $1 billion in repairs are needed to fix the state’s drinking water systems over the next two decades.
The fund has become a shining example of poor management and execution. Last year the EPA slapped the Health Department with a notice of noncompliance with loan requirements, threatened to take away funding and asked for a corrective plan in January.
And last month, it was revealed that eight of the fund’s loan officers and accountants had racked up a startling $471,304 in overtime since fiscal year 2007.
read ... Working Overtime, Not Working
PUC Approves HECO Plan to Build Another Diesel Plant, Calls it Green
SA: The Public Utilities Commission has approved Hawaiian Electric Co.’s plan to build a biofuel-capable power generation plant at Schofield Barracks, adding more fossil fuel to Hawaii’s grid.
In an order Tuesday, the PUC approved the funding and biofuel supply contract for the Schofield Generating Station Project. The PUC put a cap on funds for the facility at $167 million.
Biofuel has to make up at least 50 percent of the 50-megawatt plant’s fuel supply to satisfy federal requirements. The other half of the fuel mix would be a fossil fuel, such as ultralow-sulfur diesel.
read ... More Phony Baloney
Aha: Elect No Politicians
SA: The in-state contenders, especially those from Oahu, include numerous candidates with high name recognition — current and former politicians, for example. Many have go-to constituencies they’ll woo to get elected.
But it will be most interesting to see who emerges from the mainland to spend time — a long time, probably — discussing sovereignty in the homeland.
Best Comment: "One of the last things this process needs are the loser politicians who got us in these messes in the first place. NO PAST OR PRESENT POLITICIANS! Let someone else have a chance."
Related: 'Aha Candidates--Legislators, Trustee Violate Resign to Run Law
read ... No Politicians
Hawaii Scores 60% on gender parity
SA: Hawaii elects women to the U.S. House of Representatives at the highest rate of any state in the nation, and ranks seventh highest overall for the percentage of elected offices that are held by women, according to a new ranking by the organization Representation2020.
The group gave Hawaii a “gender parity score” of 30.2 out of a possible 100 points, which was a significant improvement from 1993 when the state’s score was 8.9. A score of 50 points means a state has reached gender parity, something only New Hampshire managed to achieve, according to the study.
Hawaii’s exceptional record of electing women to the U.S. House was partially offset in the rankings by the state’s record in other areas, including the fact that the state currently has no female mayors and has elected only one woman as governor....
read ... Representation
City removes nearly 9 tons of trash as Kakaako enforcement continue
KHON: Phase V: Sept. 29 took place on Ilalo Street, from Ohe Street to Koula Street (Mauka side only); Koula Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard (Ewa side only); and Ala Moana Boulevard, from Ohe Street to Koula Street (Makai side only). Crews:
- Removed 4.91 tons of trash (includes trash left adjacent to the Children’s Discovery Center);
- Removed 1 cubic yards of metals; and
- Removed 6 shopping carts.
Phase VI: Oct. 1 took place on Koula Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard (Diamond Head side only); Ilalo Street, from Koula Street to Ahui Street (Mauka side only); Ahui Street, from Ilalo Street to Ala Moana Boulevard (Ewa side only); and Ala Moana Boulevard, from Koula Street to Ahui Street (Makai side only). Crews:
- Issued 1 Summary Removal Notice (SNO);
- Stored 1 bin of personal property;
- Removed 3.94 tons of trash;
- Removed 10 cubic yards of metals; and
- Removed 6 shopping carts.
Phase VII enforcement was completed today, October 2....
SA: City will clear final sections of Kakaako encampment next week
read ... Continue
Maui police officer arrested in felony theft investigation
SA: Maui police said the 26-year-old officer has been with the force for almost five years.
He was arrested about 6:40 p.m. for investigation of second-degree theft, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and released pending investigation. Taking property or services valued at more than $300 is one definition for second-degree theft, according to state law.
read ... Arrested
DV Survivor says law enforcement failed to pursue case
HNN: She had to have 8 staples in the back of her head and had bruises on the side of her body, but the alleged attacker was not arrested at the scene, and he was never charged.
The woman -- who doesn't want her name or face shown -- says her ex-boyfriend, a federal firefighter, body slammed her to the pavement, then slammed her head on the ground. It happened on March 1 outside their home.
The woman says she flagged down a driver for help. He called 911.
She claims the responding officer knew the firefighter so she had the good samaritan take pictures of her injuries at the scene. She says she was worried that her case wasn't going to be properly handled. She may have been right. The pictures in the police file are useless. In fact, one labeled as the victim's head injury is so dark, you can't even see the outline of her head.
After her wounds were treated, the woman learned, Honolulu Police told the hospital psychologist that she did this to herself and was suicidal. The woman immediately corrected the psychologist, "I need to speak to somebody about Domestic Violence because my family's about to be torn apart."
More than a month later, on April 21, the firefighter turned himself in for assault.
The woman says no one from the Honolulu Prosecutors Office ever called her for an interview and we learned, the office actually declined the case, saying the victim's statements to police were inconsistent and that they'd have a hard time proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
read ... Refused
Teacher accused of touching student inappropriately; Parents want DOE investigation details released
HNN: Hawaii News Now asked the DOE about their findings, and officials said they “investigated the complaint and found it was unsubstantiated”.
read ... Investigation
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