MCEI Meeting Notes March 12, 2013, 9 am – 3 pm OHA Conference Room, Molokai In attendance: Representing I Aloha Molokai: Kanohowailuku Helm Cheryl Corbiell Larry Tool Lindy Helm PF Bentley Juanita Hulu Sam Hulu Greg Kahn Joann Tool Representing OHA: Colette Machado Representing Maui County: Kal Kobayashi Stacey Crivello Zeke Kalua Representing Kamehameha Schools: Ron Kimball Representing Molokai Ranch: Clay Rumboa Dathan Bicoy Nancy Schmicker Rex (need last name) Representing MECO: Matthew McNeff Steven Rymsha Damien Pires 1 ¡ ¡
DHHL had 4 representatives (names please) The meeting was called to order by Kanohowailuku Helm at 9:35 am. The start time was delayed to accommodate those who were coming in from the airport. Kanohowailuku introduced himself and gave background on how the windmill issue on Molokai began. He spoke about the first presentation on Molokai by First Wind and how the turbines were first slated to be placed on Homestead land. He talked about how they were pushed off the Homestead land and then they re-emerged to be placed on lands owned by Molokai Ranch on the west end of Molokai. Kanoho explained that 2 years ago he and some members of IAM met with Clay Rumboa of Molokai Ranch and it was stated that when the wind turbines were off the table, IAM would support efforts to improve Molokai by working with the Ranch and we want to follow through. Kanoho stated that there were three points to calling this meeting: 1) To gather together interested parties interested in providing renewable energy for Molokai 2) Possible partnerships 3) Engaging the community. Kanoho went on to say that IAM would be supportive and willing to outreach to the community. He stated that IAM does not speak for the whole island, but that we represent lots of people. Kanoho gave some background on the IAM film, Our Molokai . He stated that the film was originally made to submit to the PEIS folks to give a broad overview of Molokai and to show how special the island is. It was important to show how we wish to save our way of life. The film was shown. Kanoho shared a power point presentation (attached) that outlined the plan for the MCEI. He said that he would like to have all interested parties develop an island specific plan that could be folded into the County’s Molokai plan and the Maui County general plan as well as the IRP. Molokai can then be included in our own way in the HCEI. He went on to say no benefits = no division in the community. The politicians and legislature should be involved and represented here. Basically, combine development with no changing and be inclusive. 2 ¡ ¡
Talked about the idea of an emergency preparedness plan for Molokai. Wants to include Chevron and Island petroleum in the discussion. Kanoho already spoke to Uncle Frank about the ide and he said that in an emergency the water pumps can go down, medical facility at risk, business refrigeration and so forth. It is critical for the fuel providers to be involved. In a disaster all the trucks are filled and go to high ground. Not sure about a Molokai plan and the priorities. Civil Defense should be included in the plan. Both Molokai and Lanai airports are above sea level. Both islands could be a staging ground for the rest of the islands. Kanoho then asked each participant in the meeting to introduce themselves and share their interest in providing renewables on Molokai Clay: The Ranch’s interest is sustainable agriculture for the West End. He is advocating process and community involvement. He felt that a working group would be helpful in approaching the community. ; CEO of Molokai Ranch. Formerly worked for Castle & Cooke on Lanai. Now that wind is off the table, the Ranch can pursue solar, hydro and small wind to lower prices. 600 acres around MECO plant. If a solution can be found, the Ranch is all for it. Damien: MECO supervisor on Molokai. Steven: Works for MECO now, previously from Kauai. Matthew: Renewable Energy Coordinator for MECO Colette: An activist who has been the Chair of OHA for the past 3 years, a trustee for the past 17 years. She is 62 and looking for a smooth retirement. She went on to talk about how previously ran for OHA and did not win the Molokai vote, yet this time she received 1800 votes from Molokai. She takes that as being forgiven for the past. She said that she has a lot to contribute to the group. Janeel: The President of I Aloha Molokai West. Cheryl: I Aloha Molokai Kal: County of Maui Zeke: Maui Mayor’s Executive Assistant. Kanoho’s brother was his classmate. He can identify with the island. His first employer, 18 years ago, was the Pizza Café. He stated that renewable energy is very important and that meetings like this one are very important. We need to work on those who pay more. Storing of energy is not an applied science and it is not economically friendly. We cannot continue to pass the burden. The Mayor stands firm on renewable energy and that he is combative with MECO is not true. Dayton: Molokai Ranch Nancy: Molokai Ranch based in Oahu 3 ¡ ¡
Ron: keike o ka aina, born and raised on Molokai. He stated that he was part of the initial group who looked at windmills. He saw the windmills as a way to get rid of the Ranch. With the Ranch out of the equation the lands could be gotten back. Have the windmills for 20 years but eventually get the land back. Kamehameha has 200 acres on Molokai some are a stone’s throw away from the power grid. Kamehameha has a history with MECO and renewable energy and would entertain any proposals. They only have land. Thanked Kanoho for stepping forward and starting something. Rex: Molokai Ranch (last name needed) PF: IAM grew up in Oahu. On Molokai for the past 3 years. The island can grow but it does not have to change at all. Sam: Retired – on the video Perhaps . Juanita: Her husband, Sam, was born on Molokai and left for 50 years. Came back 8 years ago. They are retired and enjoying IAM. Greg: IAM’s representative on the IRP. Joann: IAM member and married to Larry, an IAM board member. Lindy: Ditto Kanohowailuku stated that the landowners present are all in the industrial complex on Molokai that includes the MECO plant. Connections can be made now. Let’s talk about the possibilities. He introduced MECO who had a power point to share. Matt shared a power point on the Molokai system. He talked about the load on Molokai as well as the configuration at the plant. He spoke about the electricity sales trends and stated that in the last 5 years it had been decreasing. This decrease was the same on Maui and Oahu and was not uncommon. Matthew went on to share the peak and low times on Molokai. He spoke about net metering, residential solar projects approved and pending for Molokai. One slide on the power point did not work so Matthew did a rough by hand drawing as an example of megawatt highs and lows. A discussion continued where participants of the meeting asked specific questions of the MECO representatives. Items discussed were base load on Molokai, how much renewable energy would MECO accept, allocation numbers, PPA’s, how PPA’s and costs are calculated, 20 year projections, what happens with a disaster like Kohuku and how the rates are then calculated. 4 ¡ ¡
Other questions like where MECO fits in to the overall HECO system. It was explained that Molokai stands alone with no prioritization – open to innovation the possibility of LNG for Molokai and Lanai to be implemented earlier because there is lower use on these islands. Question: Does LNG jeopardize solar? Answer: Don’t Know Smaller islands could be model. Discussion around rooftop water heaters and people moving to rooftop solar. It was stated that 2011 saw more rooftop solar installed in the previous ten years and that doubled last year. Net metering was discussed. It was explained that Molokai does not have the options that Maui, etc. have because of our size. It was asked how much more renewable energy can the Molokai grid take. Answer was it is hard to say, lots of details are involved. A study has to take into account 365 days and the decision is based on the economics. Differences between firm energy and fluctuating sources were discussed. The IRP scenarios are what MECO is currently working on to see what works for this and other islands. What is being looked at is biomass, biofuel, solar, wave and small wind. Battery/storage of energy was discussed. Types of energy and types of back-up possibilities were talked about. Development commitments were discussed and what happens if what is proposed does not live up to expectations. The answer was that there are penalties. It was stated that diversity in power makes it easier. A discussion took place about what would happen in an emergency situation and that how help would not arrive to the outer islands for a week or more. It is important to plan on how we could mitigate some of the impacts of an emergency. We could live, but the economy will go flat. Centralization vs. decentralization options of power was discussed. It was stated that hopefully the IRP scenarios were taking this into consideration. Waste to energy for Molokai was suggested. The comment was made that Maui has the scale for that type of energy but Molokai would need different technologies. 5 ¡ ¡
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