LIHUE — The Anahola Renewable Energy Project will not bear fruit. On Friday, the Hawaiian Homes Commission rejected a proposal by Green Energy Team, LLC to lease 2,143 acres of Hawaiian Home Lands in Anahola. Prior to the commission’s vote,
LIHUE — The Anahola Renewable Energy Project will not bear fruit.
On Friday, the Hawaiian Homes Commission rejected a proposal by Green Energy Team, LLC to lease 2,143 acres of Hawaiian Home Lands in Anahola.
Prior to the commission’s vote, HHC Chair Jobie Masagatani said it was a difficult decision, but that on “this particular day, at this particular time,” she would not support the motion.
“For myself, I have taken a lot of the testimony that’s been provided to heart,” she said. “I wish we had more time to seek that opportunity to potentially come together, but time has run out on us. And I still have a number of unanswered questions.”
The 5-3 vote came despite the Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s recommendation for approval.
Had it been approved, the 20-year lease would have allowed Green Energy to clear existing Albizia trees from the land and establish a eucalyptus tree plantation to fuel its $90 million biomass-to-energy facility near Koloa.
The land belongs to native Hawaiians under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920.
Voting for the majority were Commissioners Perry Artates, Leimana DeMate, Gene Ross Davis, Renwick Tassill and Chair Masagatani. Jeremy Hopkins, Ian Lee Loy and Michael Kahikina voted in support.
Look for extended coverage in Sunday’s edition of The Garden Island.
• Chris D’Angelo, environmental reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or cdangelo@thegardenisland.com.
