Monthly Archives: February, 2008
Ocean of energy – Three wave turbines are planned for Maui waters
Posted in Maui news
Waves near the surfing area known as Jaws, just off Pauwela Point on Maui's northern coast, would be used to generate enough electricity to power about 1,600 homes on the Valley Isle. The plan was announced yesterday by state officials and executives from Oceanlinx, an Australian renewable energy company. The company now is performing preliminary site work, such as environmental assessments, and expects to have the generators in place by 2009.
Wailea 670 Update – The Discussion is Not Over
Posted in Maui news
Mahalo for the nearly 40 people who spent many hours at the County building Friday. Although our Council appears very jaded, there were thousands of people watching at home who were inspired to hear all of you speak up for the ‘aina and sensible planning at the Wailea 670 hearing . As a result of your well researched and delivered testimony, several council members are revising conditions to get your suggested language in any Wailea 670 zoning ordinance.
What happens next?
Construction unions made a strong plea for project approval, just as they did in 1992 when the first approvals were given. Unfortunately the 1992 approvals never resulted in any jobs, they only boosted the sell-off price the investors got when they sold to the next group in 1994. Maui County Council will meet Monday Feb 11 to discuss Wailea 670 and possibly vote. If they vote to approve the First Reading of the Wailea 670 rezoning request , swayed by the very emotional testimony of hardworking union members, there is still one more public hearing, possibly Feb 22.
Will an Updated EIS be required?
Maui Tomorrow filed a formal request to ask the Maui Planning Department to require an updated EIS. It may some time for this to be put on the Commission’s agenda. The County is claiming no review is needed. We believe that if the Planning Commission agrees with County Planning staff, the courts may well have a different view.
More Reviews:
Wailea 670 still has several other regulatory reviews ahead. It is clear that 6 of our council members currently believe that this project is really about affordable housing, tax revenues and keeping union members at work. What can we do to let them know that this is not the real story?
‘Onipa’a: Do not Give up!
Every effort that has brought positive change on Maui has required a long commitment
Keep speaking up. Do your research. Talk to your friends and family in the building trades to find out what’s really going on? Have lots of mainland workers come over in the past two years and created a workforce that is much larger than 5 years ago? Are there many new projects that are not hiring union workers? Let’s get the truth and offer our Council some choices that make sense for our workforce and our irreplaceable resources. IMUA!
What happens next?
Construction unions made a strong plea for project approval, just as they did in 1992 when the first approvals were given. Unfortunately the 1992 approvals never resulted in any jobs, they only boosted the sell-off price the investors got when they sold to the next group in 1994. Maui County Council will meet Monday Feb 11 to discuss Wailea 670 and possibly vote. If they vote to approve the First Reading of the Wailea 670 rezoning request , swayed by the very emotional testimony of hardworking union members, there is still one more public hearing, possibly Feb 22.
Will an Updated EIS be required?
Maui Tomorrow filed a formal request to ask the Maui Planning Department to require an updated EIS. It may some time for this to be put on the Commission’s agenda. The County is claiming no review is needed. We believe that if the Planning Commission agrees with County Planning staff, the courts may well have a different view.
More Reviews:
Wailea 670 still has several other regulatory reviews ahead. It is clear that 6 of our council members currently believe that this project is really about affordable housing, tax revenues and keeping union members at work. What can we do to let them know that this is not the real story?
‘Onipa’a: Do not Give up!
Every effort that has brought positive change on Maui has required a long commitment
Keep speaking up. Do your research. Talk to your friends and family in the building trades to find out what’s really going on? Have lots of mainland workers come over in the past two years and created a workforce that is much larger than 5 years ago? Are there many new projects that are not hiring union workers? Let’s get the truth and offer our Council some choices that make sense for our workforce and our irreplaceable resources. IMUA!