Sign Online Petition to Support Mayor's Veto of Bills 256 & 257

Richard Ha writes:

Lots of folks are starting to organize so they can get their voices heard re: the attempt to override Mayor Kenoi's veto of County Bills 256 & 257.

One example is these Leilani Estates folks, near Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), who have set up this online petition in support of the mayor's veto. 

I recommend signing this petition. Anyone who supports the mayor's veto (regardless of whether you live in Puna) can sign. Click here for the petition.

Background: I previously wrote about the bills here. In that post, you'll read that I testified against the bill, "which alters the geothermal royalty funded-Geothermal Relocation and Community Benefits program, takes away community benefits, and creates a one-mile 'buffer zone' around the Puna Geothermal Venture plant."

This video from Big Island Video News gives some information about the bills, too. The Mayor says everything is in place to do what needs to be done without taking away community benefits. 

Comments

[Michael]

So Richard I am asking you, since you are going to be at the energy conference in August, what does the military want with our renewable energy. Is this really for the people? Or for the military? This changes the merits of the conversation especially on your part.

http://www.ct-si.org/events/APCE2012/program/dag.html

[richard ha]

Aloha Mike;
Hawaii uses liquid fuel in roughly equal proportions; passenger jet fuel, ground transportation and for electricity. The military needs are over and above the needs of the state. The military is a potential customer for huge amounts of liquid fuel. They are willing to buy at world market price. It takes flat land, deep soil, centralized processing, adequate irrigation, intense sunlight at sufficient scale to be competitive on the world market. Hawaii is at a huge disadvantage in the factors of production. But, Big Island Biodiesel is a different case. They provide liquid transportation fuel for Hawaii. The difference is very clear to. I've been writing about it for a long time.