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Legal amendments to help geothermal development in Hawaii

Legal amendments to help geothermal development in Hawaii Haleakala crater on Maui, Hawaii (source: flickr/ schmaeche, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 16 Dec 2013

Recent amendment to legislation retains Hawaii Home Land under federal jurisdiction and providing freedom for the Hawaii Homestead community to develop geothermal assets on their lands.

In a news piece last week, Honolulu Civil Beat reports on a recent amendment to a piece of legislation that could have an impact on renewable energy development on public lands in Hawaii.

The U.S. congress via the Hawaii Homes Commission Act of 1920 holds control over more than 200, 000 acres of land in Hawaii. Even after Hawaii gained statehood in the U.S., congress retained that legal control. Hawaiian Home Land is held in trust for Native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii. Initially administered by a federal agency, responsibility was transferred to the state level.

The amendment now introduced through Representative Colleen Hanabusa, includes Hawaiian Home lands to be used for renewable energy development, including geothermal, in the “Quadrennial Federal Onshore Energy Production Strategy”. This move recognizes federal jurisdiction over lands will help Hawaii into broadening its energy portfolio.

In doing so the Hawaii Homestead community receives freedom to develop renewable energy assets on their land.  Particularly geothermal is mentioned as it provides a firm power base that could help broaden the energy portfolio of Hawaii and replace oil.

Paul Richards, President of the Waimanalo Hawaiian Homes Association said  “We should move forward, full steam ahead — literally — to develop geothermal on our lands and become better stewards of our destiny and especially our aina.”

Source: Honolulu Civil Beat