Category: Subcommittee Announcent

  • HB1385 – What now?

    HB1385  was the bill which would’ve protected the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island. It provided for a 2000 foot shoreline setback on state land on the big Island. It didn’t get a hearing and is dead for this session.

    When it was first submitted to the environmental Caucus it was a proposal to provide a shoreline set back on state lands from Ulupo point to South point and around to Volcano national Park. That’s what the caucus voted on to support. The bill as submitted included all state lands on the Big Island.

    The purpose, which the caucus supported was to protect Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, protect public access to the coast and provide an opportunity to build a trail parallel to the historic Trail which would provide biking and hiking opportunities.

    The objectives are worthy of our continued support.

    Rep. Chang held the bill in committee because he wanted a resolution from the County indicating their support. It also appears we may have stepped on some toes at the Hawaii County Caucus. We should definitely have had their participation and support, but being new and inexperienced, we were not aware of many of the institutions on the Big Island whose support we should have solicited.

    Personally, I think this proposal is very complex and we  approached it without sufficient research. I think our legislators will want to have a plot by plot analysis detailing information about each piece of state land. I think they want to know things like:

    1. The geology of each plot and how subject the coast is to erosion and other impacts of sea level rise.

    2. Where the Ala Kahakai trail is in relation to the coastline.

    3. What species are present on the plot.

    4. What potential impacts might this proposal have on potential future developments.

    5. What maintenance costs are foreseen. For instance, will fountain grass need to be controlled in order to maintain access.

    With this kind of information are legislators will be better able to evaluate the projects impacts and benefits.

    In pursuing this project in the future we need to touch bases with as many organizations as possible. We need to know who our opposition is and the breadth and depth of our support.

    I do not think volunteers can gathered the detailed information the legislators will require.  Gathering this information will require funding.  I suspect that if the state was to contract this study the consultant would charge over $100,000. With todays economy that will be difficult to sell.

    A resolution asking UH Hilo Environmental Students to take on the study with a stipend for expenses, and perhaps a tuition scholarship would be a practical way to provide the needed information.

     

  • Public Decision on Intra-Inter Govt. Energy Wheeling

    RELATING TO ENERGY – SB703
    The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 02-24-11 11:00AM in conference room 229.

    Governmental Wheeling; Inter and Intra; Public Utilities; Transmission and Distribution Fee

    Requires the public utilities commission to adopt rules and issue orders relating to intra-governmental wheeling and inter-governmental wheeling that enable renewable energy producers operating on public lands to sell electricity directly to governmental entities located on the same island. Authorizes public utilities to charge a transmission and distribution fee for both intra-governmental wheeling and inter-governmental wheeling. (SD1)

  • Climate Change Task Force May Survive

    Two committees have recommended that SB 80 be passed but recommendations are still needed in three committees. The bill would extend the life of the task force to 06/30/2013.

    2/15/2011 The committee(s) on WLH recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2/15/2011 The committee(s) on ENE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

    2/16/2011 Re-Referred to ENE/WLH/PGM, TSM/WAM.

    Posted by Lisa Hinano Rey
    Subcommittee Chair on Energy and Climate

  • Action Alert: Food and Farm Sustainability

     Subcommittee Update

    At our December General Membership Meeting, our Caucus voted to support legislation regarding the expansion of long term Agricultural leases and the study of a Agribusiness Cooperative Program, both designed to encourage local small family farmers to invest in Hawaii’s future food sustainability.

     Subcommittee Chair Juanita Kawamoto has been working hard to move legislation on these important issues forward, and she has asked me to post this personal note and action alert update.

     Personal note from Juanita Kawamoto:

    Please support our Small Family Farms in Hawaii

     Small Family Farms make up a large portion of food farms in the State of Hawaii. For centuries, they have provided food for our communities. Large corporate plantations and organized corporate conglomerates may provide our State tax revenues, but they give little back to the people of Hawaii. 

     Small family farms in Hawaii provide:

     1.      Fresh healthy produce, livestock, and value added locally produced products.

     2.      Knowledge and experience regarding local land management. They help address issues like Hawaiian food sustainability, environmental protection, and community cooperation.

     3.      Job opportunities for future farmers who wish to keep farming an honored Hawaiian profession. These farms will also be great educational tools for Hawaii’s future farmers.

     Hawaii’s small farms currently are facing the worst economic times since the great depression, yet small family farms keep 100% of their revenues in the State of Hawaii, supporting Hawaii’s economy, schools, hospitals, roads, housing.

     We must tell our legislators to support subsidies, cooperatives, local feed mills, and the expansion of long-term leases for small food farms on current agricultural State land.

     Please send testimony supporting the following bills, so we can continue to help keep small farms growing in Hawaii:

     SB 1155 – Long Term Ag lease task force – currently being reviewed by the Ag committee. Will move on to WAM upon approval. Please contact members of both committees to show your support.

     SB 1156 – Relating to the establishment of an agribusiness cooperative program.

    Waiting for hearing to be scheduled on Education. Please ask Senator Jill Tokuda to hear this Bill. We are hoping Dr. Sabry Shehata can help us move this to hearing.

     HB1496 – Agribusiness Cooperative Program: UH Task force—HED Chair Scott Nishimoto has agreed to hear the bill this Thursday, February 10th at 2pm in room 309. Please submit testimony in support at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/?measure=HB1496

     HB 920– Agricultural Leases: Task Force Appropriation–We are working with AGR chair Rep. Clift Tsuji to set up hearing for this bill. Please send in support testimony to hear this bill to reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov.

     Finally, please forward this e-mail to your friends and ask them to do the same.

     Mahalo

     You can learn more about Caucus at http://environmentalcaucusofthedemocraticpartyofhawaii.com

  • Energy and Climate in the News

    3D Solar Cells Could Be Here Next Year

    Friday, 28 January 2011–The 3D solar Cell technology is still in its infancy and it might take another year or two before it goes commercial and gains prominence. Patented by Solar3D, the technology promises to make photovoltaic cells that are far more efficient and cost effective than the traditional ones that we are now using. The plan from Solar3D at this point is to create a prototype for public display by the end of 2011.

    Jim Nelson, CEO of Solar3D, has announced that their developmental project for the 3D solar cells is running well ahead of its schedule and with the technology having been patented by their company a couple of months back, the next step is to create a prototype that will fit the commercial billing.

    3D Solar Cells supposedly use a technology that facilitates micro-photovoltaic structure to trap sunlight and then bounce the photons around to generate more energy than the models that are currently on offer. We are obviously thinking this is akin to trapping light inside a prism and creating multiple reflections, but that is only based on our best guess of how the technology seems to work.
    Solar panels built from such cells will not only be more energy efficient but apparently will also cost a lot less. Well, all we can say is that we are anxiously waiting for the first 3D Solar Cell to be out. There is so much solar energy out there, clean and abundant, waiting to be tapped into!
    http://solarfeeds.com/ecofriend/15786-3d-solar-cells-could-be-here-next-year?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+solarfeed+%28Solar+Feeds%29

    Posted by Lisa Hinano Rey

    Chair, Energy and Climate Subcommittee

  • Action Alert regarding Caucus Priority–House Bill 1385, relating to Shoreline Setback

    Aloha Members,

    At our last General Caucus meeting, we selected this item as one of our nine priority items. We will be advocating on its behalf, but you can do more by helping to spread the word, and writing your representatives to express your individual support for this bill.  I have copied an e-mail from Debbie Hecht on the Big Island, with contact information and talking points.

    Let’s get the word out that we support this bill. You will find details below.

    **********************************

    Please write to the members of the Water Land and Ocean Resources Committee and ask them to support

    Bill 1385- Relating to Coastline Preservation.

    IF PASSED THIS MEASURE WOULD PRESERVE ALMOST 100 MILES OF HAWAII ISLAND SHORELINE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

    TALKING POINTS: Bill 1385 will protect almost 100 miles of coastline on Hawaii Island by preserving ocean access, protect the reefs from sedimentation and protecting habitat for ocean species, protect the Ala Kahakai Trail, protect over 35 cultural sites along the Trail, link the 4 National Parks, provide room to build a parallel trail for hiking and biking for residents and visitors, that could be the foundation of an eco-tourism industry and provide jobs for people of our island.

    IN YOUR EMAIL at the subject line- write BILL 1385-COASTLINE PRESERVATION- SUPPORT

    ASK THE COMMITTEE TO PUT THIS ON THEIR AGENDA FOR 2011.

    To Read the text of Bill 1385 and to see a map of the almost 100 miles of shoreline to be preserved go to www.dhecht.com

    Bill 1385 is a top priority for the Democratic Party’s Environmental Caucus and the Surfrider Foundation. We are asking groups for letters of support.

    These are the committee members of the WATER, LANDS AND OCEAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

    Cut and paste the following email addresses to send an email TODAY:

    repchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov, rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcabanilla@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcarroll@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repchong@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcoffman@capitol.hawaii.gov,repherkes@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repmorita@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov, repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov, repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov

    We are very lucky to have 4 Big island reps on committee, If these representatives are from your district please make sure you stress that you are a voter in that district.

    1. Chair Chang from South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha and
    2. Nakashima from Kohala and Hamakua and Hilo,
    3. Herkes from South Kona and Ka’u,
    4. Coffman from Kona.

    HOW YOU CAN HELP:

    1. Do you have a group that we can meet with to get a letter or support?
    2. Hand out the attached information sheet.
    3. Read the text of the Bill at www.dhecht.com and download the map.
    4. Can we put your name on the Angels List to be kept informed?
    5. Could you be a key person to keep other people in your email contacts informed?

  • Caucus Testimony Policy

    Aloha Members of the Environmental Caucus of Hawai’i,

    As we enter this important next stage of our advocacy, the Steering Committee felt the need to set a testimony policy for those appearing on behalf of the Caucus. While individual members are always free to offer testimony on their own behalf, if you want to testify on behalf of the Caucus, we ask that you follow the policy we adopted at our last Steering Committee meeting.

    I have included a copy of that policy below.

    Caucus Testimony Policy

    Testimony on Bills before the Hawaii State Legislature may be provided on behalf of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii as follows:

    1) Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures officially adopted as Caucus priorities.  For the 2011 legislative session, there are 9 priorities and the intent is that there will be 9 identified Bills on which official Caucus testimony may be offered.

    2)  Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures before the legislature that are substantially similar to those Bills officially adopted as Caucus priorities.

    3)  Subcommittee Chairs and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on any measures that have been otherwise approved by a majority of the Steering Committee.

    • Those seeking majority approval may circulate an e-mail request to the full Steering Committee asking for approval.
    • Only e-mail responses indicating approval will count as a yes vote.
    • Once the votes are in, the requester must e-mail a vote outcome to the Steering Committee, to ensure the votes were counted accurately.

    4)  Copies of all testimony given “on behalf of the Caucus” must be provided to the Steering Committee at the Steering Committee Meeting held following the presentation of the testimony.

  • Energy and Climate Action Alert

    Once again time is of the essence!!  This coming Tuesday Feb. 1, 2011 testimony will be heard on  a bill relating to Alternative Energy Wheeling.  I will be submitting testimony by email and cannot be there personally on Tuesday.  Anyone who is interested in making official appearance as designee, please let me know by e-mailing me at hinanorey@gmail.com

    Lisa Hinano Rey

    Chair, Energy and Climate Subcommittee

    The committee(s) on ENE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-01-11 3:30PM in conference room 225.

    http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=703

    RELATING TO ENERGY.
    Report Title: Governmental Wheeling; Inter and Intra; Public Utilities; Transmission and Distribution Fee
    Description: Requires the public utilities commission to adopt rules and issue orders relating to intra-governmental wheeling and inter-governmental wheeling that enable renewable energy producers operating on public lands to sell electricity directly to governmental entities located on the same island. Authorizes public utilities to charge a transmission and distribution fee for both intra-governmental wheeling and inter-governmental wheeling.

  • Energy and Climate Subcommitee Informational Link

    One of our favorite priorities and part of our multifaceted energy conservation solution was to reduce automobile use for short trips by developing specific procedures for implementing Complete Streets legislation.

    Below is a summary of the bill introduced into the Senate which tackles the problem of funding for the complete streets project enacted in 2009.

    Follow the progress of this bill at : http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=829

    State of Hawaii Senate bill number 829, Twenty-sixth legislature, 2011

    RELATING TO COUNTY VEHICULAR TAXES.

    BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

    The legislature finds that most of the senseless bicycle injuries and deaths on Hawai‘i roadways are preventable.  Roadway fatalities continue to be a major concern for our State.  Act 54, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, requires the department of transportation and county transportation departments to adopt complete streets policies that seek to reasonably accommodate convenient access and mobility for all users of the public highways within their respective jurisdictions, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons of all ages and abilities.  Biking is a viable transportation option that also improves health and quality of life.

    The legislature further finds that the depressed economy has substantially stalled the State’s ability to move forward on many of the projects that have been planned.  Consequently, new avenues of funding are being explored.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish an annual bicycle and moped registration renewal fee to augment the moneys in the bikeway fund under section 249-17.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

    Posted Lisa Rey: Chair of Energy and Climate Subcommittee

  • HB379 re Quarantine

    Requires the invasive species council to periodically update an invasive species list. Requires council to update list prior to 6/30/12. Provides an additional penalty for anyone who possesses or intentionally transports, harbors, or imports with the intent to propagate, sell, or release in the State, any invasive species on the list.