Our letter, with maps and photographs, is on our new website: https://malamanaluohana.com/
Due September 7, 2016: Comments on Hawaii EA; Oahu North Site (We will print and mail your responses at noon Sept 7, 2016)
TO: Regional Director, BOEM Pacific OCS Region, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, California 93010
Dear BOEM Regional Director:
We are writing to express our concern regarding your proposal to consider leasing ocean waters off Ka‘ena Point for wind farm development – our comments are limited to the O‘ahu North portion of your proposed action. We will do everything practicable to block wind turbine installation at Ka‘ena. A wind farm at this location would be an affront to our kānaka māoli, bar us from important fishing grounds, ruin our sunsets, rob ocean energy and disturb our world-class west and north swells, reduce our financial net worth, mar our night sky with industrial red blinking lights, contaminate our ocean, kill our wildlife, cause fear and stress in the dying moments of all O‘ahu kānaka māoli. We believe any purpose or need you may have for a wind farm in our ocean could be met, without these adverse environmental and cultural effects, with installation of solar and utility-scale battery storage. Kamehameha Schools, residents, and businesses in Hawaii are being blocked from installing solar PV by our utility company – while you consider authorizing development of this egregious project - ‘A‘ole! E mālama nalu. The proposed 400 MW Ke’ena Point offshore wind project could be replaced with solar and battery storage that IS feasible, tested, and proven WITHOUT the adverse effects this wind farm would cause. Include solar with battery storage among the alternatives you fully consider in your NEPA documents.
In August 2015, the North Shore Neighborhood Board informed the wind farm developer the North Shore would not allow wind farm development off Ka‘ena Point; you and your applicant have met in private with the North Shore Neighborhood Board President and other leaders of our community. At your agency’s July 21, 2016, well-attended public meeting on the North Shore, all speakers and, in two votes, all public attendees, unanimously opposed any further consideration of the Kae‘na (Oahu North) site. On page 6 of your March 7, 2012 Hawaii Task Force PowerPoint http://www.boem.gov/uploadedFiles/BOEM/Renewable_Energy_Program/State_Activities/Task%20Force%20Purpose%20BOEM.pdf%20030712.pdf you indicate one purpose of the Task Force is to coordinate with Federal and local agencies and tribes to ascertain potential conflict areas such as “environmental, fishing, military, navigational, air space, etc.” “as early as possible and throughout the process”. As a result of your coordination since 2012, you have excluded certain areas from further at-sea wind farm consideration due to certain criteria while the concerns of Native Hawaiians and the North Shore community do not appear to have been heard. If you do continue to pursue Ka‘ena the Oahu North site development as a wind farm, ensure your NEPA documents include a thorough disclosure of the effects the project would have to the following important aspects of our lives
(see complete text in letter, below).
Please hear us this time - no means no. `A`ole!
