Aloha!

Thank you for your continued support! We only have until August 10th to deliver a strong message to the PUC. Please take a moment today to send an email to the PUC and local legislators, and urge them to reverse their decision. 

The opposition to Honua Ola doesn’t seem to care about jobs on Hawaii Island, or our state’s renewable energy future. Fossil fuels must be stopped, and jobs must be saved! 

Tell them that this decision is unacceptable, and they must act now. 70% of Hawaii Island residents support Honua Ola, and the PUC should too!

Let the PUC know...

The future of Hawaii depends on cost-effective renewable energy and non-tourism jobs. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis in history, and the Honua Ola Bioenergy facility is offering us some of the most valuable solutions. The support on the ground is unmistakable, as the community here on Hawaii Island understands the benefits of Honua Ola. 

Many people are misrepresenting this carbon-neutral bioenergy facility, and making it seem as though it is damaging the environment and costing taxpayers money. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Honua Ola is cost-competitive and complies with strict regulations from the EPA, State Department of Health, OSHA, and more. The facility was engineered to ensure that people will be safe and the environment will be protected. 

Biomass is the most stable, cost-effective renewable energy solution available. People are claiming that solar only costs $0.08, but this is entirely inaccurate. Solar alone cannot generate enough power, and battery storage must be added. As soon as batteries are added, the price jumps to $0.25. Energy experts have stated that even when Solar + Battery is maximized, it cannot reliably power the grid alone and can’t even handle two days of rain storms or a 24-hour outage. This is why we need Biomass to bring stability to our grid and replace dirty fossil fuel plants.

Governor Ige has vocalized the dire need for non-tourism jobs, which resonates now more than ever. Full-time jobs at Honua Ola are well-paying and will support hundreds of families on Hawaii Island. All production will be taking place locally, which will breathe new life into agriculture, transportation, and more. Solar farms do not create many jobs once construction is complete. Also, solar panels are often manufactured overseas, sending money far away from our community.  

For Hawaii to successfully reach the mandate of renewable energy by 2045, Honua Ola Bioenergy is the best solution while providing long-term jobs. It is a clean facility that will reliably generate cost-effective power for Hawaii Island. Without a firm source of energy like bioenergy, fossil fuels will always return to fill in the gaps that solar and wind leave open. 

If we don’t take action, families will suffer NOW from job loss. The grid will become unstable, electric costs will rise, and future generations will be left with a damaged environment. 

Email the PUC and reach out to your local legislators.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE JOBS & PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.  

puc@hawaii.gov

or

https://puc.hawaii.gov/contact/public-comments/

Public Utilities Commission

Re: Docket No. 2017-0122 Honua Ola

James P. Griffin, Chair

Jennifer M. Potter, Commissioner

Leodoloff R. Asuncion, Jr., Commissioner