LIHU‘E — Following a request to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative for more member involvement, KIUC announced Monday that it will hold a special member meeting on June 4. Earlier this month, KIUC received a petition requesting the cooperative hold a
LIHU‘E — Following a request to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative for more member involvement, KIUC announced Monday that it will hold a special member meeting on June 4.
Earlier this month, KIUC received a petition requesting the cooperative hold a special meeting of the membership to discuss the development of new, small hydropower projects on Kaua‘i, and calling for a member vote on the Board of Directors’ March 29 decision to engage Free Flow Power to assist in that process.
Following the verification of signatures, as required by KIUC by-laws, the cooperative planned the 8:30 a.m. meeting at the Kaua‘i Veteran’s Center, 3125 Kapule Highway in Lihu‘e.
“KIUC welcomes this opportunity to meet with members of the cooperative to discuss the potential development of small hydropower projects on Kaua‘i,” KIUC CEO David Bissell said in a news release. “It is important for our members to understand the ramifications of the petition process, which requires a vote on whether or not KIUC can continue to engage Free Flow Power to provide expertise in our review of hydropower opportunities on Kaua‘i.
Bissell said KIUC is asking the people of Kaua‘i to support the recommendation of KIUC’s Board of Directors to continue the investigation of hydropower with the goal of developing new small hydropower projects. These would be owned by the people of Kaua‘i, and should be a lowest-cost source of renewable generation.
“It will be unfortunate if we are not allowed to continue the board endorsed process, which will allow significant community input on how projects are designed and whether they move forward to completion,” he said.
The co-op is still ironing out the format of the special meeting, KIUC spokeswoman Anne Barnes said.
“It’s looking like a facilitated discussion where all will have a specific amount of time to speak and share support and concerns,” she said, adding that more information on the format should be available by week’s end.
KIUC members will begin receiving ballots next month to vote on the March 29 board action to engage Free Flow Power. Ballots must be returned by noon, July 8.
KIUC is a not-for-profit generation, transmission and distribution cooperative owned and controlled by the members it serves, the release states. Headquartered in Lihu‘e, the cooperative serves more than 32,000 electric accounts throughout Kaua‘i.
Visit www.kiuc.coop for more information.
