Aloha Friends, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here are a few things I’d like to share with you.
Big Solar Projects Coming to Kalaeloa
I testified at a public hearing Nov. 16 held by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to give the public a chance to weigh in on two proposed solar energy projects that would be located on DHHL property in Kalaeloa.
Sopogy, a Hawaii-based company led by Darren Kimura, plans to construct a concentrated solar power project, Kalaeloa Solar One, which will be the largest solar farm of its kind in the state. It will provide 4 megawatts of power for 1,150 homes, eliminate 13,475 barrels of imported oil annually, and create more than 300 construction jobs.
Recurrent Energy is a San Francisco-based company that plans to build a 5 mw solar photovoltaic project. It will include 25,000 PV panels and save 20,000 barrels of oil a year.
As a Kalaeloa resident and chairman of the Senate’s Energy and Environment Committee, I’m in strong support of renewable energy development in Kalaeloa. I commend DHHL for taking a leadership role in helping us meet our goal of supplying 70 percent of our energy needs from renewable sources and energy efficiency by 2030.
Important Funding for District 19 Schools
I was pleased that on Nov. 4, Gov. Linda Lingle released $75 million in funding that the Legislature had appropriated for needed improvements, repairs and maintenance at our schools. Here’s a breakdown of what District 19 schools received:
Barbers Point Elementary - $646,000
Kaleiopuu Elementary - $97,000
Kapolei Elementary - $285,000
Kapolei Middle - $316,000
Makakilo Elementary - $364,000
Mauka Lani Elementary - $302,000
Waikele Elementary - $185,000
Tapped the Movie - A Wake-up Call for Bottled-water Drinkers
I served as a panelist for the screening of Tapped the Movie at the UH Law School on November 18th. The screening was sponsored by the Sierra Club and gave me, their Executive Director Robert Harris, Marvin Heskett of the Surfrider Foundation, and Carol Feinga of Kokua Foundation Hawai’i an opportunity to share our thoughts on this powerful documentary. Tapped focuses on the negative health and environmental impacts created by the bottled water industry.
As you know, Hawai’i has a deposit beverage container program aimed at getting us to ramp up our recycling efforts. Last year, Hawai’i residents went through 895 million glass bottles, cans, and plastic bottles. That averages out to about 2 containers per day per person. Of the 895 million, there were 186 million plastic bottles. We had a 79% redemption rate and 147 million plastic bottles were recycled. However, 39 million bottles ended going in the landfill or became litter. It’s important for the state to lead by example, so I plan to introduce a bill in 2010 to prohibit state agencies from using public money to purchase single-serving bottled water. This policy is already in place in cities, such as San Francisco and Seattle.
I’m not sure when Tapped will be shown again, but I definitely recommend checking it out. In the meantime, you can check out the trailer at Tapped: The Movie.
Kapolei Court Complex Will Open Soon
I had a chance to tour the new Kapolei Court Complex on Nov. 18 with Chief Justice Ronald Moon, project manager Christina Uebelein and other area legislators. The much-anticipated, $133 million project will open on March 29, 2010, and will have 12 non-jury courtrooms, one jury courtroom and a juvenile facility that will house up to 66 young people.
Listen-Story
My next Listen-Story meeting will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 9 at Kapolei Starbucks (next to the Chevron Station).
Please contact me if I can help you. My phone is 586-6830 and
e-mail is sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Mahalo for the privilege of serving you!
|
