The Just Transition Hawaii Coalition has asked every candidate who is running for a seat relevant to the controversial proposed power plant “Hu Honua, ” what their position is on the project. (Hu Honua is also known as “Honua Ola.”)
The question: WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON THE PUC RULING OF THE HONUA OLA/HU HONUA BIOENERGY PLANT ON THE BIG ISLAND?
Candidates who were questioned include those running for U.S. Representative for District II, all Hawaii-County candidates for State Legislature, all OHA candidates, all candidates for Hawaii County mayor and for Hawaii County Council.
On Tuesday, July 28, we will post candidate responses to this vital question. Stay tuned!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON HU HONUA
In case you are not familiar with Hu Honua (also known as “Honua Ola”), it is a power plant on the Hamakua coast that has been converted from burning coal to burning wood. It has not yet opened for operations, but the plan is to source the wood from various stands of eucalyptus on the Big Island, and truck the logs to the facility in Pepe’ekeo.
Recently, on July 9, 2020, the State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) denied HELCO’s request for a waiver for competitive bidding for Hu Honua, because the wood-burning facility would charge consumers 22 cents per kilowatt, compared to the lower price offered by solar companies on island, at 7-8 cents per kilowatt. This PUC ruling has effectively prohibited Hu Honua to begin operating, because their high prices would prohibit them from winning any contracts, compared to the far less expensive electricity produced by solar.
Environmentalists cheered because Hu Honua’s operation plans to release 300,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, draw 21.5 million gallons of water per day from the Hakalau aquifer (about double the consumption as all of North Kona), and reinject the heated and desalinated chemical-laced water into injection wells only 80 feet from the coastline on a very unstable pali. From there, the water will quickly percolate into the ocean at Pepe’ekeo Point, the only place in the world that is home to a certain endemic limu, and it is a nesting ground for honu.
In response to the PUC’s ruling, Hu Honua filed a motion for reconsideration July 20. They say that the PUC is not being fair to deny the 40 or so workers currently employed by them, and the 200 or so potential workers, from having a job during this coronavirus period of high unemployment.
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