September 14, 2012
Hawaii

West Molokai Association: no to turbines

By Howard Dicus | Hawaii News Now | www.k5thehometeam.com 13 September 2012

The West Molokai Association board of directors announces its “resolute opposition” both to the wind turbine project proposed for Molokai – and to interisland electric cables.

The association represents owners of more than 800 properties on the western side of Molokai, some within a few thousand feet of proposed sites for wind turbines. The project has been endorsed by Gov. Abercrombie and Hawaiian Electric Co. but has raised concerns in other quarters.

“Whether a long time kama’aina family or a malihini that now calls Molokai home, we all have one thing in common- a commitment to embracing the native Hawaiian culture, honoring the heritage of the people, preserving the rural character of the island, and cherishing the unique natural resources that distinguish Molokai from all other islands,” the association said in a resolution for its members to endorse.

The association argued that Molokai would be permanently harmed by construction dust and runoff and the development of a deepwater port, and asserted that electric rates would actually rise because a new state law lets Hawaiian Electric pass through the costs of a $1 billion undersea cable.

“The construction of wind turbines towering over 450 feet will irreversibly change the rural and serene nature of Molokai, resulting in an undesirable industrial zone, with oversized new roads, a forever blighted landscape, and an industrial harbor,” the resolution said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/14/west-molokai-association-no-to-turbines/