life of the lands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Henry Curtis, Executive Director Life of the Land (808) 927-0709 Henry.lifeoftheland@gmail.com http://www.lifeoftheland.org/ APPEAL CHALLENGING PUC APPROVAL OF THE HU HONUA BIOMASS PROJECT LODGED IN THE HAWAII SUPREME COURT HONOLULU – Monday, August 28, 2017 -  Life of the Land has lodged an appeal to the Hawai`i Supreme Court to reverse the Public Utilities Commission ruling in favor of the HELCO-Hu Honua biomass power purchase agreement. This is the first challenge by a PUC docket participant regarding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions in Hawai`i. Life of the Land is represented by Maui attorney Lance D. Collins.           The PUC granted Life of the Land participant status in this case because of our extensive research and understanding of energy and environmental issues. “It is critical that state regulatory agencies consider climate change,” asserted Henry Curtis, Executive Director of Life of the Land. “And, the PUC is specifically requir

Life of the Land is Hawai`i’s own energy, environmental and community action group advocating for the people and `aina for 47 years. Our mission is to preserve and protect the life of the land through sound energy and land use policies and to promote open government through research, education, advocacy and, when necessary, litigation. The role of energy cannot be understated.  Both internationally, and in Hawai`i, expenditures on energy account for more than ten percent of all money spent. Energy drives commerce, industry, transportation, and schools. Energy costs are the major financial input for agriculture and moving water. Life of the Land firmly believes that too often problems are examined using silo mentality. Artificial man-made constructs and boundaries are imposed that fail to provide a realistic picture.  Every energy project has positive and negative economic, environmental, social, cultural, geographic, taxpayer and ratepayer impacts. Every energy project has primary impa

Life of the Land filed its Statement of Position with the Public Utilities Commission on July 10, 2017. This is a web-based version, excluding many footnotes, and formatting it in a web-friendly version. This proceeding involves a Hawai'i Electric Light Company (HELCO) proposed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC which was filed with the Hawai'i Public Utilities Commission. After reviewing the filings in this proceeding. Life of the Land (LOL) believes this project is not in the public interest and should be rejected I. Hu Honua’s Proposal Fails to Fully Address Issues of Climate Change and the Environmental Impact of their Proposed Operations. The first two sentences of SB559 SD1 HD2 CD 1 , which Governor Ige signed into law as Act 32 , read: “ The legislature finds that not only is climate change real, but it is the overriding challenge of the 21st century and one of the priority issues of the senate. Climate change poses immediate and long-term threa