MEDIA RELEASE
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hosting eight public scoping meetings on six islands to solicit public comment on the scope of the Hawaii Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.
DOE and the State of Hawaii have established a long-term partnership to transform the way in which renewable energy and energy efficiency resources are planned and used in the state.
In 2010, DOE announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA) with the State as a joint lead
for wind energy development under the Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program.
In response to public comments, as well as regulatory and policy developments, DOE has broadened the scope of the analysis to now include energy efficiency, distributed renewables, utility-scale renewables, alternative transportation fuels and modes, and electrical transmission and distribution.
DOE invites federal, state, and local government agencies, Native Hawaiian and other organizations, and members of the public to submit comments and participate in public meetings on the scope of the PEIS — that is, the proposed action, the range of reasonable alternatives, and potential environmental impacts and other issues to be considered.
The public scoping meetings will involve a presentation of the NEPA process and the concept of a programmatic EIS; a question and answer session; and a formal commenting session, which will be transcribed by a court reporter to ensure that all comments are available to DOE for consideration during the preparation of the programmatic EIS.
The meetings will provide opportunities to view exhibits on potential clean energy approaches, ask questions, and submit comments orally or in writing.
Representatives from the DOE, State of Hawaii, and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will be available to answer questions and provide additional information to participants.
Individuals who submit comments during the scoping process and provide their contact information will receive copies of the draft programmatic EIS.
Scoping Meeting Locations:
* Sept. 13 – Hawaii, Kealakehe High School, 74-5000 Puohulihuli Street, Kailua-Kona, 5-8:30 p.m.
* Sept. 14 – Hawaii, Hilo High School, 556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, 5-8:30 p.m.
* Sept. 17 – Maui, Pomaikai Elementary School, 4650 South Kamehameha Avenue, Kahului, 5:30-9 p.m.
* Sept. 18 – Lanai, Lanai High & Elementary School, 555 Fraser Avenue, Lanai City, 5-8:30 p.m.
* Sept. 19 – Molokai, Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center, 90 Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai 5:30-9 p.m.
* Sept. 20 – Oahu, James B. Castle High School, 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Kaneohe, 5-8:30 p.m.
— Find out more:
www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com