What a difference reporting can make.
Pacific Business News reported on Friday that the governor has expressed a willingness to condemn thousands of acres on Molokai for a gigantic wind farm to generate electricity that would then be siphoned off to power continued growth on Oahu.
PBN also provides background on the history of the wind project before the PUC, which is very complicated.
If landowner Molokai Ranch isn’t interested in the deal? Neil says we’ll take the land. And if the residents of Molokai aren’t interested in living in Oahu’s energy shadow, or being reduced to parts of our electrical grid? Off with their heads? It isn’t clear what the Gov has in mind there, but it made Neil sound more like an emperor than governor.
But a story in the Maui News made it sound quite different. A softer and gentler governor comes through.
However, the governor said the wind projects “must proceed in a way that produces benefits for the people and the communities of those islands.” He said, “These community benefits should help move the islands toward sustainable futures of their own. Because I expect those benefits to be substantial, I believe it is imperative that both islands – Molokai and Lanai – have the opportunity to participate.”
The governor also said the wind projects must represent the majority interests of residents of the respective islands.
“No individual or private interest should have the ability to veto the entire project because of their objections as long as their views are considered and discussed with respect,” Abercrombie said. “If the Molokai landowner is incapable of participating in a viable plan for the island, the state is willing to exercise its right to condemn lands for this public purpose, again, if residents agree that a project can be done in a pono way.”
By the way, if you don’t subscribe to PBN, it’s definitely worth the price. It’s been a part of my regular media portfolio for a very long time.
And while you’re thinking about this wind project, check out Life of the Land’s plan for energy independence for the state.
Regarding the differences in reporting, I ran into a recent “what if?” column by Lisa Pease, “What a ‘Liberal Media’ might look like.”
I think it’s worth discussing what a liberal media would look like if we had one, so we can better understand that we don’t have one.
It certainly does challenge that characterization of the mainstream media.
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No matter if you say it soft or shout it loud, just the notion that eminent domain might be invoked in this situation is downright scary.
i would totally watch LNN.
If Governor Abercrombie wanted to do something significant for Hawai’i’s energy needs, he would condemn the state’s privately owned power grid and assume control of it as a public asset.
Those massive wind turbines are offensive and degrade Hawaii’s natural beauty.
I was on Moloka’i less than a year ago and always return satisfied knowing at least one island has managed to avoid being paved over.
The Outdoor Circle objects to ads on city buses but apparently gives wind turbines a free pass.
The Governor’s Maui quote sounds good to me.
This wind turbine issue needs to be examined.
They are ugly. They ruin scenic views of Hawaii’s mountain ranges and open spaces. The night lights look like airport towers.
There is bad electricity hazard to nearby inhabitants.
The surrounding areas do not have a break in electric bills. There is no evidence of electric bills going down.
The only parties benefiting appear to be the owners and contractors who received outrageous subsidies and handouts.
I’m afraid we have all been hoodwinked into ugly-fing these islands.
The Kahuku hills now look like hell with all the mammoth turbines, telephone poles, and wires. It feels like you are surrounded by prison towers with lights at night.
It is my understanding that the Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board did not announce the Environmental Impact Study on this project.
Correct, there is no evidence of electric bills going down. There is never that promise. The promise is energy independence. Less reliance on fossil fuels. Is wind power the way to go? I am a proponent of solar… on every rooftop, fueling every vehicle. A guy can dream can’t he?
People have to understand that visual pollution is a very big part of the equation when it comes to wind power. Much more consideration should be given to solar. I installed a photovoltaic system on my house 18 months ago and my electric bills, which used to average around $250 a month, now vary from $18 to $75, depending on how many sunny days there are.
“Energy independence” is an attractive term which sometimes hides questionable assumptions. Obama is using it to justify deep water drilling in the Gulf, by the same actors, using the same technology as those who gave us the explosion and massive spill last year. Oh, and the oil produced will be sold on the WORLD market, as is inevitable with a commodity of that sort.
In Hawaii, we are now being told “energy independence” will NOT be cheaper. But we will no longer be sending OVER $5 BILLION out of state to pay for imported oil. Let’s look at that claim. Money which had previously been going to import oil will be going to WHOM exactly? Since we are told it will NOT be the rate-payers/ citizens who will financially benefit, who locally, will be grabbing a share of that $5 Billion?
Forgive my cynicism, but the gravitational pull of $5 billion is enough to distort rational public discussion.
Compare this very expensive, overly centralized, overly capitalized MEGA “Big Wind” project with the model of “distributed generation.” With distributed generation, you create incentives for a variety of competing technologies, on different scales. A homeowner with photovoltaic on their roof or a windmill on their property can sell back their surplus to the grid for a fair price.
A small business can cover the roof of theri stores or warehouse will PV arrays. Farmers can use part of theri land to generate electtricity. Visionary entrepreneurs can experiment with competing technologies, some small, others larger.
The grid is either publicly owned, or a regulated monopoly, into which various energy producers pour their energy.
The $5 Billion gets “distributed” as well, instead of monopolized by a few politically well-connected crony capitalists, hoodwinking our elected officials into using taxpayer money to subsidize their monopolies, our PUC to resist “anti-trust” enforcement and the Governor threatening to use the power of eminent domain to push through this ill-conceived Juggernaut.
As they say, “Power to the People!”
http://www.civilbeat.com/posts/2011/04/08/10182-documentary-challenges-big-wind-project/
http://friendsoflanai.org/
Go straight to this site for video. If you go to Civil Beat, you have to register.
I wonder why the state isn’t doing the small stuff for energy independence, like covering state buildings with solar panels (water, PV, solar thermal).
Many schools, for example, are ideal for solar, since their use pretty closely matches the availability of solar energy. But when I drive by Kapolei High, an ideal candidate, I see no solar panels.
@zzzzzz,
Good point!
It strikes me as similar to the City’s enthusiasm for “mass transit.” They could greatly increase ridership on TheBus without much expense. But they “nickel and dime” it while lavishing $100 of millions on The Train. And earlier, on TheBoat.
But The Train is being built for a lot of reasons OTHER than increasing mass transit. And the Big Wind project is being driven by forces eager to cash in on a new profitable, subsidized, monopoly, with little or no risk to their investment portfolios.
Gotta love crony capitalism. Investing in lobbyists, PR and politicians has a much higher return than taking your chances on the “Free Market.” Look at how profitable the Act 221 High Tech tax credits have been! This will be even bigger!
Ian, you refer to your “regular media profile”. Of what does it consist? I will check out PBN. Thank you again!