LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative on Monday received a petition calling for a member meeting on the Board of Directors’ May 29 decisions relating to the member vote certified Friday. In that vote, KIUC members affirmed by a more
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative on Monday received a petition calling for a member meeting on the Board of Directors’ May 29 decisions relating to the member vote certified Friday.
In that vote, KIUC members affirmed by a more than two-to-one margin the board’s decision to engage Free Flow Power to assist in exploring development of new, small hydroelectric projects on Kaua‘i, and for the cooperative to hold a special meeting of the membership to discuss that process.
Jonathan Jay organized the second member petition.
He and others have criticized KIUC for not providing its members with fair and balanced information in voter materials for the recent vote.
The co-op has strongly advocated in support of its board’s decision, urging members to vote “yes” on the ballot while implying that a “no” vote meant the end of future hydropower development on Kaua‘i.
Jay has argued that the July 8 deadline for members to submit ballots, a deadline set by the board, did not allow enough time for members to educate themselves on the issues prior to voting.
As with the first petition, KIUC is working with its outside legal counsel to review the petitions, verify signatures and certify the results, a KIUC news release states.
See an upcoming edition of The Garden Island for more information on the second member petition in the co-op’s history.
