SB181 Solar Ready Homes – would require new homes to incorporate design elements to make solar panels more easily installed whenever the new owner is ready to take the plunge. This will definitely help to make solar more affordable by eliminating the need for expensive retrofits. Conference committee will reconvene on 4/27/2011 3:40 PM in […]
Bag Bill Final Conference Meeting Today?
SB 1363 Single-use checkout bag offset fee. The fate of this bill still lingers in the hands of the Conference Committee members. The offset fee currently stands at 10 cents and preserves the plastic bag bans in Maui and Kauai counties, while applying the offset to paper bags. They are no longer accepting testimony, but […]
Conference Committee Turns Coastal Mngmt Bill Upside Down
HB 117 is proof of the importance of active monitoring of bills at the legislature, especially in the closing stages of the session when so much happens behind closed doors. Just a week or two ago, this bill expanded our Coastal Zone Management Act to require public review of large, expensive single-family homes built along […]
Council Decides Not to Raise Developer Rates
A study by the County Council showed that costs associated with permitting big developments significantly exceed the fees collected to issue the permits. Despite that study, the Council voted not to raise permit fees. Gladys Baisa called the proposal to raise fees in order to cover costs “draconian”. The plan would have gradually adjust fees […]
Kahului Airport Hotel
A&B Properties and R.D. Olson Development will build a $16.5 million, 138-room Marriott hotel near Costco. A&B will retain ownership while Marriott manages the hotel. See the A&B press release for more info.
Kona Blue Seeks Drift Open Ocean Cage Permit
Kona Blue Water Farms has applied for a permit to determine whether it would be possible to grow young amberjack to harvest size over 10 months in submerged cages tethered to surface buoys drifting freely on a circular ocean current off the Big Island. See Star Advertiser for more Kona Blue’s other open ocean fish […]