LIHU‘E — Trust Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative to act in your best interest, the co-op’s CEO and board of directors said during Saturday’s special member meeting at the Veterans Center. But some members testified that KIUC has yet to earn
LIHU‘E — Trust Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative to act in your best interest, the co-op’s CEO and board of directors said during Saturday’s special member meeting at the Veterans Center. But some members testified that KIUC has yet to earn their trust.
Trust and water rights were the core issues of the meeting, called for by co-op members who said they wished to discuss an upcoming vote on whether the utility should continue its contract with Free Flow Power to develop hydroelectricity on Kaua‘i using the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s permitting process.
The special member meeting was the first of its kind. It was initiated by Adam Asquith and more than 250 certified petition signatories. An estimated 150 people attended the meeting, which started at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and wrapped up several hours later.
Asquith, a Kaua‘i taro farmer, argues in favor of hydroelectric development but not the use of the FERC process to permit hydro power projects. He said that FERC, as a federal agency, has the power to dictate and supersede Hawai‘i’s stringent water rules designed to protect local farmers and cultural interests.
Each member, including Asquith, was given three minutes to make a statement or ask questions of KIUC’s panel comprised of KIUC legal counsel David Proudfoot, KIUC Board of Directors Chair Phil Tacbain and KIUC CEO David Bissell. Occasionally, Free Flow VP of Project Development Jason Hines took the microphone to answer questions related to the FERC process.
At the door of the Veterans Center, KIUC employees, such as Anne Barnes of public relations and marketing, handed out fans that said “hydro” on one side and “yes” on the other. They also passed out KIUC literature that encouraged members to vote yes on their ballots and share their reasons for voting “yes” with other members.
“This is not the venue to discuss or decide these issues,” Asquith said of the three-minute time limit. “How did we end up here, with signs that say ‘hydro, yes’? The signs should say ‘FERC, no.’”
Proudfoot warned that if members vote no, “contracts will have to be terminated and payments will have to be made to contractors and it will be a possible end to hydroelectric projects on Kaua‘i, at least for the foreseeable future.”
Ballots will be mailed to members on June 13.
For further coverage of the meeting, see an upcoming edition of The Garden Island.
• Vanessa Van Voorhis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or by emailing vvanvoorhis@ thegardenisland.com.
