Hawaii
Hawaii Utility Regulators Reject Hu Honua Biomass Power Plant
![Hawaii Utility Regulators Reject Hu Honua Biomass Power Plant Hawaii Utility Regulators Reject Hu Honua Biomass Power Plant](https://d1l18ops95qbzp.cloudfront.net/wp-content/2022/04/15140138/Hu-Honua-Renewable-Biomass-Biomass-Plant-Hawaii-v1.jpg)
The Hawaii Public Utilities Fee has given the thumbs all the way down to a tree-burning energy plant on the Huge Island.
In its 164-page choice with one dissent, the three-member panel listed quite a lot of explanation why Honua Ola Bioenergy, previously generally known as Hu Honua, shouldn’t be granted an amended energy buy settlement with Hawaiian Electrical Gentle Firm. The highest causes: the venture will end in vital greenhouse fuel emissions, which contribute to local weather change, and Hu Honua’s carbon sequestration plan is speculative and based mostly on “unsupported assertions.”
The fee mentioned it has considerations in regards to the doubtlessly vital long-term environmental and public well being impacts of the venture if the facility settlement with HELCO is permitted.
As well as, the fee discovered that the facility buy settlement is prone to end in excessive prices to ratepayers, each via its comparatively costly electrical energy and the potential displacement of different decrease value, renewable sources.
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The biomass plant, positioned 10 miles north of Hilo, is just not anticipated to ship distinctive advantages to HELCO’s grid neither is it urgently required presently, the fee dominated. Subsequently, it will not be prudent or within the public curiosity to approve the facility buy settlement, in response to the ruling.
The 2 commissioners who signed off on the denial have been outgoing chair James Griffin and Jennifer Potter.
Commissioner Leodoloff Asuncion Jr. wrote in his dissent that when the fee reopened the Hu Honua docket on June 30 upon remand from the state Supreme Court docket, it was supposed to contemplate “slender points” associated to the greenhouse fuel emissions.
The proof clearly establishes that the burden of proof has been met and that the biomass plant will end in a major discount in greenhouse fuel emissions over the course of its 30-year life, he mentioned.
He added that the upper prices that may be handed on to ratepayers are affordable.
The Hu Honua venture has been within the making for a few years, slowed down in litigation and regulatory proceedings. The fee initially granted an influence buy settlement to the corporate in 2017 however environmental group Lifetime of the Land efficiently sued, arguing that the plant’s potential to trigger air air pollution was not adequately taken into consideration. The Supreme Court docket agreed, vacated the settlement and remanded the matter again to the fee.
In June 2019, the fee reopened its docket for additional proceedings. Many twists and turns have occurred since then, together with a number of days of evidentiary hearings in March. Throughout these hearings, HELCO representatives testified in assist of the facility buy settlement, saying Hu Honua would increase renewable vitality out there on the grid.
The biomass plant proposes to burn eucalyptus timber and convert the steam into 21.5 megawatts of vitality, supplying about 14 p.c of Hawaii island’s energy wants or about 14,000 households. That might end in 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide produced over the lifetime of the plant.
The corporate says the operation shall be carbon impartial as a result of carbon dioxide launched by the plant can be offset via reforestation, the acquisition of carbon offsets, and by displacing current turbines that run on fossil fuels.
Griffin and Potter didn’t discover these claims credible “resulting from Hu Honua’s reliance on a variety of speculative assumptions.” The margin of error in Hu Honua’s carbon sequestration evaluation is so small that even a tiny change within the operation might outcome within the energy plant turning into a major supply of air air pollution, in response to the choice. It’s additionally unclear whether or not and the way the fee would be capable of implement Hu Honua’s carbon commitments over the course of three many years.
A request for remark from Hu Honua president Warren Lee is pending.
Learn the total ruling under.
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Hawaii
Bhaghani’s late FG helps UCLA win its opener with a 16-13 victory over Hawaii
![Bhaghani’s late FG helps UCLA win its opener with a 16-13 victory over Hawaii Bhaghani’s late FG helps UCLA win its opener with a 16-13 victory over Hawaii](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/09/01/58ad8494-6c97-4463-8f24-2a41f5ebcced/thumbnail/1200x630/89f3c1e5eb013746c3a49fd9a6d595e5/gettyimages-2168905403.jpg?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
Mateen Bhaghani converted a 32-yard field goal with 56 seconds to play to help UCLA open its season with a 16-13 win over Hawaii on Saturday night.
The Bruins (1-0) did all their scoring in the second half to erase a 10-0 halftime deficit against the Rainbow Warriors (1-1).
UCLA overcame a lackluster first 30 minutes of the game and eventually evened the score at 13 with 14:05 to play on Bhaghani’s 37-yard field goal that came five plays after an interception by D.J. Justice.
The Bruins started their final drive with 3:08 to play and drove 45 yards in seven plays, capped by Bhaghani’s game-winning 32-yard field goal from the left hash that split the uprights.
Hawaii scored on its opening possession, when it orchestrated a nine-play, 73-yard drive that was punctuated by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Schager to a wide open Pofele Ashlock. Schager was 7-for-7 passing on the drive for 51 yards on the drive, which was extended by a 19-yard gain by punter Lucas Borrow on fourth-and-6.
Kansei Matsuzawa’s 28-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Hawaii a 10-0 lead at the intermission. The field goal was set up by Logan Taylor’s interception and seven-yard return to the UCLA 5-yard line.
The Bruins got on the board after they cashed in their first possession of the second half with a 39-yard scoring strike from Ethan Garbers to Rico Flores Jr. The touchdown pass capped an eight-play, 96-yard drive that took 4:36 off the clock.
THE TAKEAWAY
UCLA was picked to finish 15th out of 18 teams in a preseason Big Ten Conference media poll. It entered the game — its first under coach DeShaun Foster and its debut as a Big Ten Conference member — with much uncertainty, but the Bruins may have more questions after week 1 than in the lead up to it.
Despite the loss Hawaii hung with the Bruins for more than 59 minutes. The Rainbow Warriors, who were picked to finish ninth in the Mountain West Conference, were seeking their first win over a Power Conference team since they beat Arizona in 2019.
UP NEXT
UCLA will have a bye next week before it opens Big Ten Conference play at home against Indiana on Sept. 14
Hawaii also has a bye next week before it makes the first of five road trips this season when it visits Sam Houston on Sept. 14 for the first meeting between the schools.
Hawaii
UCLA vs. Hawaii: Live updates, start time, how to watch and betting odds
![UCLA vs. Hawaii: Live updates, start time, how to watch and betting odds UCLA vs. Hawaii: Live updates, start time, how to watch and betting odds](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/14ef4be/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2085x1095+0+115/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4a%2F7a%2F4879f331470b978f75263bd4b089%2F1364977-sp-ucla-colorado030-ls.jpg)
From NCAA Division III to the Big Ten: The unlikely rise of UCLA’s Luke Schuermann
UCLA defensive lineman Luke Schuermann takes part in a drill earlier this month during fall training camp.
(Isabella Serafini / UCLA Athletics)
Luke Schuermann often gets “the look” whenever he mentions his last football stop. It can be a quizzical expression or a blank stare based on the level of knowledge of the words just spoken.
Johns Hopkins? Wait, give me a second. Oh, you mean the school known for producing renowned journalists, doctors and scientists?
That’s right. That one. Among its most famous alumni are CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, former President Woodrow Wilson and film director Wes Craven.
Something the Baltimore-based private research institution is not known for is its football program. Its first team, in 1882, had to play as the Clifton Athletic Club because of the school’s contempt for the emerging sport. For its first 13 seasons, students served as coaches.
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Hawaii
Kusch chosen to succeed Rep. Nakashima – West Hawaii Today
![Kusch chosen to succeed Rep. Nakashima – West Hawaii Today Kusch chosen to succeed Rep. Nakashima – West Hawaii Today](https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/web1_Kusch.jpeg)
HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green on Friday announced the appointment of Matthias Kusch to fill the House District seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Mark Nakashima, who was unopposed in the recent primary election.
Kusch was among three candidates sent to the governor by the state Democratic Party, in accordance with state law. The other two were former state lawmaker Dwight Takamine and Kristen Alice Apruzzese, director of community relations for Hope Services.
Kusch is a retired Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief, a coffee and citrus farmer, affordable housing advocate, president of Hilo Bayfront Trails, Windward Planning Commission member and maintains a variety of other business and volunteer ventures.
In a press release, Green extended “a special appreciation” to Takamine for his “extensive history of service and his willingness to serve once more. We are considering asking him to serve in a different and perhaps more fitting role.”
After interviewing all three candidates, the governor selected Kusch given his experience as a firefighter and the state’s need to have someone with that experience and voice in the Legislature, according to the press release.
Kusch will represent House District 1 (Hamakua and a portion of Hilo, Kaumana).
“I am grateful to Governor Green for appointing me to this seat and will do my utmost to uphold the values and deep respect that the late Rep. Nakashima brought to our district,” Kusch said in the release. “As a former PTA and SCC president of EB deSilva Elementary School in Hilo, our team worked closely with Rep. Nakashima and Sen. (Lorraine) Inouye in their successful effort to secure nearly $3 million for classroom and related improvements and design.
“I have served my community during my career, and this is the next step to continue that service, on a larger canvas.”
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