SIERRA CLUB Ma-lama I Ka Honua Cherish the Earth JOURNAL OF THE SIERRA CLUB, HAWAI‘I CHAPTER A Quarterly Newsletter January - March 2013 Volunteer Spotlight Sierra Club Hawai‘i Timeline Planting Native Nate’s Adventures Group Reports & Outings The spotlight focuses on Remembering the history of Hao, one of the few native Nate fi nds Red-footed News, issues, and hikes on Steven Lee Montgomery. SCH from 1968 to 1980 plants related to Plumeria. Boobies at Makapu‘u. your island. Page 5 Page 6 Page 9 Page 10 Pages 12 - 21 GRAND THEFT ‘AINA: The Fight to Repeal the PLDC Unless you’ve been under a exist primarily to create a profi t. Many the PLDC. With the help of other rock, you’ve probably heard about folks simply don’t agree with that idea. community allies, we launched the the controversy over the Public One of the primary criticisms website GrandTheftAina.com. This Lands Development Corporation of the PLDC is the fact that it is website tracks legislators’ opinions (PLDC). The Sierra Club and many exempt from most land use laws. This on the PLDC, and gives the public the other community organizations and includes laws intended to protect ability to take action by contacting concerned individuals have been in a agricultural and conservation land their legislators. We hope this website very public dispute with Senator Dela from unreasonable development, becomes a reliable base for information Cruz and Governor Abercrombie over laws intended to ensure long-term about the PLDC, particularly in the the value, purpose, and intent of the planning, and laws intended to protect coming months as the legislature PLDC. The community organizations public health and safety. The PLDC considers repealing the law. have called for a repeal of the PLDC; is also exempt from the procurement The Sierra Club also advocated on Abercrombie/Dela Cruz have pushed code, which is intended to shine the behalf of several political candidates to allow the PLDC to proceed. light of transparency on governmental who made their opposition to the PLDC So what is the PLDC? It is a contracts. Most folks simply can’t a central part of their 2012 campaign. state entity tasked with developing understand why a governmental By sending out district-wide mailers, our public beaches, parks, and open agency needs such sweeping powers we deliberately made this an election spaces as a means to generate revenue and, based on past experience, have a issue. We wanted other legislators for Hawai‘i. While development in justifi ed fear about bad consequences. to understand the depth of concern moderation can be a good thing, this The Sierra Club is proud to be a and public angst about this law. law assumes our natural resources part of the grassroots swell opposing Continued on page 3 Hawai‘i’s largest and most successful grassroots environmental advocacy organization SIERRA CLUB HAWAI‘I CHAPTER PLDC are designated by the governor, the rules would guide the PLDC in FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK governor plainly exerts a high degree administering its programs, services, Continued from page 1 of control over this body. and resources. Clear administrative We’re proud that newcomers such rules would better guide the PLDC Staying on Track as Representative Nicole Lowen and How would the PLDC generate than vague rules. To date, the Germans are proud of a policy called Senator Laura Thielen won their races, revenue for the DLNR? PLDC has refused to consider any “Energiwende,” which calls for the end to all showing that their campaign platform The PLDC is tasked recommendations that would take fossil fuels and nuclear power and embraces in opposition to the PLDC resonated with implementing public land plainly “bad” projects off the table or solar and wind power. Aggressive goals require with the electorate. optimization projects to create revenue- create objective criteria for evaluating Germany to achieve 80% renewable energy We anticipate the PLDC will be a generating centers or take advantage of potential development projects. central issue this upcoming legislative opportunities to exploit local, national, This creates an environment ripe for targets by 2050. Many Germans believe they can - session. There will be calls to repeal and/ and international markets. The PLDC favoritism, double standards, and achieve 100% adoption of clean energy. Years of Malama I Ka Honua or substantively amend the law. In an can also sell, assign, or lease any other less savory things—all outside public support and a focus on local clean energy effort to help provide some clarity, we’re property in its possession. of the public eye. projects—like solar on rooftops—has ensured that all major political Editor: Phyllis Frus [email protected] offering a Frequently Asked Questions parties strongly support Energiwende. Layout & Design: Geoffrey T. Moore section to help people understand So what’s the big deal? Shouldn’t we just trust the people Here, in Hawai‘i, we’ve made strides towards our own energy Editorial Board: Scott Glenn, what the PLDC does or doesn’t do. We Hawai‘i residents and groups assigned to run the PLDC? change. We’ve adopted some of the most aggressive renewable energy Janice Marsters, Geoffrey T. Moore, encourage you to familiarize yourself are concerned about the PLDC’s To adequately protect our goals in the United States. Solar has become the new green economy, Deborah Ward and stay in touch with us through the ability to evade important land use cultural and natural resources, we responsible for over 20% of the state’s construction jobs. GrandTheftAina.com website. And, and environmental laws designed must take steps to protect against The Mälama I Ka Honua is published But we’re in the midst of making a few stumbles. You may have seen quarterly by the Hawai‘i Chapter most importantly, please take the time to protect Hawai‘i’s unique cultural any misbehavior, now or in the in the headlines that Hawai‘i Gas (the Gas Company) recently requested of the Sierra Club, P.O. Box 2577, to contact your legislators and ask them and natural resources. We’re future. Plainly agencies can be taken permission to start importing liquid natural gas (LNG) into Hawai‘i. Honolulu, HI 96803. A small portion to repeal the PLDC! (Contact info can be concerned about the potential loss over by special interests; otherwise, Experiences in other locations demonstrates that bringing LNG into a of the annual Sierra Club dues goes found at capitol.hawaii.gov.) of public lands. We’re concerned regulations would not be necessary. market reduces the growth of clean energy. We can’t move to a clean toward a one-year subscription. about public safety and health with energy future if we’re merely replacing one liquid fossil fuel with another. Contribution of news, opinion, FAQs about the PLDC the exemption from building code Even without clear administrative standards. We’re concerned about rules, doesn’t the environmental Moreover, the case for LNG—reducing electric rates—is based on art, and photography may be sent electronically to: Why was the PLDC created? the loss of transparency with the review law (Chapter 343) adequately the false assumption that LNG prices will stay low. Historically, the [email protected] The stated purpose of the PLDC loss of the procurement code. We’re protect our cultural and natural LNG market is quite volatile. Further, LNG is also particularly cheap in or by post c/o the Hawai‘i Chapter, concerned about the loss of long-term resources from the PLDC? the continental United States right now. Developing an export facility, P.O. Box 2577, Honolulu, HI 96803. is to generate revenue for the DLNR so that it can manage its lands and planning that helps ensure we keep No. Chapter 343 is a wonderful however, would likely mean that tankers could sail past Hawai‘i and go Submissions must be received by the facilities. In essence the PLDC is certain areas open for recreational and law, but it is intended merely to to much more expensive markets, such as Japan. Factoring in the cost of fi rst of the month prior to the date of intended to be the development conservation purposes. provide information about the building new infrastructure, we could wind up with a situation where the publication. arm of the Department of Land and possible risks of a potential project. cost of LNG is comparable to today’s oil prices. Articles, graphics, and photos are Natural Resources. Does the PLDC increase meaningful This information is supposed to In another stumble, Governor Abercrombie just unilaterally reduced copyrighted by the authors and public participation? allow decision makers to make better Hawai‘i’s renewable energy tax credit. While we support reasonable changes artists and may be reprinted only No, the public’s ability to decisions. By itself, however, Chapter with permission. Who is in charge of the PLDC? to our tax policy, Governor Abercrombie acted without consideration of the PLDC comprises a fi ve- meaningfully participate has 343 does not dictate whether or not damage that could be caused to thousands of solar workers and to families The Mälama is printed on recycled been substantially reduced. The a project can move forward. Here, a paper. Please recycle it again! Members member board of directors—BLNR who want to “go green.” No one wants to see layoffs, or families in need Chairperson; Director of Finance; community development plan and PLDC project could still move forward may elect to receive only an electronic the land use commission have been even if it would cause substantial avoiding clean energy because it is outside of their fi nancial means.