The Molokai Times
Thursday, April 3, 2008 (Updated 4/7/8)
By Kate Gardiner
At a community meeting last Wednesday on Molokai, something unusual happened. Instead of a tense, emotional atmosphere plagued with the worries and hardened positions of the past, community advocates came to a consensus in favor of the proposed UPC Wind project. Two hours of discussion headed by activist Walter Ritte led to a vote, asking, "Do we support the concept of supporting [UPC Wind?]." It was unanimous.
Molokai Community Service Center Executive Director Karen Holt was at the nucleus of the meeting. She and other community leaders have been working together with UPC Wind to develop a viable wind energy concept for Molokai on the west end of the island. UPC Wind pledged $50 million to the idea in November after numerous community meetings around the island. That money would go to the "Buy the Ranch" campaign Holt runs.
Since the announcement last week of the closing of the Ranch Saturday, and the loss of 113 permanent jobs on Molokai, community advocates have been scrambling for a solution to the short-term problem of jobs, and the longer-term problem of consistent, stable economic stimulus for the island. The UPC Wind project seems to present a good alternative for the land. The problem? The Ranch's reputed $200 million price tag. Additionally, Molokai Ranch has not indicated the land is for sale.
Community leaders agreed to split into three teams March 29 at the Molokai Community Service Center, attacking the problem of fundraising and long-term solutions with a multi-pronged approach. The group came together to distill some 30 community plans for the island into a "not plan," detailing what residents have wanted to do with Molokai for the past 30 years, and what they want to do with the 'aina in the future.
Holt said, "We have 15 minutes to buy the Ranch, and I think we're at 12 minutes right now … I would love to buy the Ranch without windmills, because we don't want to look at 'em. But it's a sacrifice worth making."
As of Wednesday night, the group has decided to pursue the UPC Wind proposal, which could put as many as 140 windmills on Ranch and DHHL lands near Ho'olehua while granting the community control of the project. UPC would then sell the electricity generated to Oahu at a wholesale price. A small percentage of the gross price would be tied to the lease for the land.
Ahupua'a, the association of Molokai's homestead associations, is in favor of the plan, reported Kammy Purdy. She said that the met towers, used to judge whether or not a property is viable for wind farming, have been put up. Purdy said it seemed that the group of 50 homesteaders seemed OK with the idea April 1.
"We don't like the idea of seeing windmills," she said. "But alternative energy would put Molokai ahead of the idea of going green." Purdy said that UPC Wind would like to produce a total of 50 kilowatts of power on Molokai, but if they are stuck only planting windmills on homestead land, they can only build 80, perhaps 50 turbines. She said, "140 is the magic number … It's possible that homestead land can do that."
Community resident Sybil Lopez acknowledged that the plan would produce few jobs, however, "Because they are bringing in this opportunity, their intention is to buy the Ranch and lease from [the community.] We can self-govern to produce jobs for Molokai."
Purdy said the project would have to have community support to be successful. "What it comes down to is Molokai's reputation precedes itself," she said. "If we back UPC, then we are likely to get the bid. It's one project that the island will be for."
Community activist Steve Morgan said he was "very impressed with the transparency."
Kupuna Moke Kim said that he wants, "everyone to go to these meetings and learn what these guys are saying. We can all offer what we thought we heard, but ... I want to say on the behalf of the homestead, the whole island cannot get all the benefits … You have to formulate your own minds. There's a lot of stuff."
Adam T. Kahualaulani Mick said that city people seem to think that windmills are beautiful, but he, "thinks they're ugly… I've come to support them for two reasons. One, they take no water, and two, they can be taken down in 20 or 40 years … It'd be ironic to say no because they're ugly… because we'd see them right across the channel [on Lanai]."
Sen. J. Kalani English, (D-23) who flew in for the meeting, said he would support every alternative energy idea in Hawaii. "It's whoever the one who can get through the process first is the one who can do it. Lanai is rushing, UPC has it on Maui. It's a small window [of opportunity] right now.
If the group can find major donors to make up the rest of the purchase price for the land, and if Molokai Ranch is in fact for sale, the community will be able to finally decide what it wants to do with the 62,500-acre property.
Additional meetings about the UPC project will be held at Maunaloa Elementary School today at 6 p.m.; at Kilohana Community Center on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m.; and at Lanikeha Center, Wednesday, April 16 at 6 p.m.
Sidebar
The "Not Plan"
Those behind the UPC Wind project merged many community plans into a new strategy, "Molokai: Future of a Hawaiian Island." The plan addresses all aspects of Molokai's culture, from subsistence to economics, and idealistically investigates the island's potential.
"The people of Molokai have a clear vision for the island's future based on the values of pono and aloha 'aina," reads the opening line. Later, the authors suggest, "In [the section on] Tourism we find great challenges, and yet we also [see] great potential returns for Molokai. Keeping Molokai, Molokai through Hawaiian Culture and community involvement is a priority."
Among ideas presented is that of converting the "existing tourism infrastructure to best use is essential to the island's tourism economy, including converting the 22-room [Molokai Ranch] Lodge for the kama 'aina market and the Tentalow camps, to high-end tourism initiatives. Tourist activities should have authentic Hawaiian essence and an educational component for resource protection."
Original article URL: http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/84313948.asp