PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS REGARDING THE HAWAII INTERISLAND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM

For Immediate Release: January 14, 2011

HONOLULU – The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) will host public meetings on Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Oahu to receive comments on the scope of the Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program (HIREP): Wind Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS reviews possible environmental impacts that may arise from wind energy program development under the HIREP and the range of reasonable options.

“This is an excellent forum for concerned citizens to express their opinions, speak with experts and talk about moving Hawaii towards a brighter energy future,” says Estrella A. Seese, Acting Energy Administrator, State Energy Office.

TIMES, DATES AND LOCATIONS:
• February 1, 2011 – McKinley High School Cafeteria, 1039 South King Street, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• February 2, 2011 – Pomaikai Elementary School Cafeteria, 4650 South Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• February 3, 2011 – Mitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai, Molokai, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• February 5, 2011 – Lāna‘i High & Elementary School Cafeteria, 555 Fraser Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Both oral and written comments will be considered by DOE and DBEDT. Requests to speak at any of the public scoping meetings should be submitted to Mr. Allen G. Kam, Esq., AICP, HIREP-Wind EIS Manager, on or before January 28, 2011, by any of the following means:

• By e-mail to [email protected]
• By submitting electronic comments on the EIS web page at www.hirepwind.com
• By facsimile (fax) to 808-586-2536, Attention Allen G. Kam.
• By mail to:
Allen G. Kam, Esq., AICP
HIREP EIS Manager
State Energy Office, Renewable Energy Branch
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
P.O. Box 2359
Honolulu, Hawaii 96804

Requests to speak may also be made at the meetings; however, requests received by January 28, 2011, will be given priority in the speaking order. Additional project information can be found at the project website: www.hirep-wind.com.

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For more information, contact:

Richard Lim
Interim Director, DBEDT
Phone: (808) 586-2355

Anthony J. Como
DOE NEPA Document Manager
Phone: (202) 586-5935
[email protected]

Allen G. Kam, Esq., AICP
HIREP-Wind EIS Manager
Phone: (808) 587-9023
[email protected]

ESTRELLA SEESE APPOINTED ACTING HEAD OF STATE ENERGY OFFICE

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2011

HONOLULU—Estrella A. Seese has been appointed acting Energy Administrator of the Hawaii State Energy Office of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Seese, who has served as the Energy Office’s manager of Energy Planning & Policy for the past three years, assumes the duties of former Energy Administrator Theodore Peck, who has resigned and moved to the private sector.

“Estrella has the depth and breadth of knowledge about the energy issues and challenges facing Hawaii. I am confident that under her leadership she will be able to work with the outstanding staff at the Energy Office to help the state reach the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030,” said DBEDT Interim Director Richard Lim. “We need to move our state towards a clean energy future that will significantly reduce our use of imported oil, keep the money we spend on buying fuel in the state, and create new, green jobs for Hawaii’s residents.”

Seese has over 30 years of experience in the energy arena. She has represented the State in energy-policy related proceedings to ensure that regulatory framework and policies that are developed will promote the achievement of the State’s energy goals.

Prior to joining DBEDT, she was director of Pricing at Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO), responsible for the development, administration, and implementation of the electric rates and tariffs on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Economics from University of Hawaii, Manoa, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She was an East-West Center Degree Scholar and a Ford Foundation Fellow.

This is a civil service position so the standard state recruitment process will be followed to fill the position permanently.

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For more information, contact:

Richard Lim
Interim Director, DBEDT
Phone: (808) 586-2355

Estrella Seese
Acting State Energy Administrator
Phone: (808) 587-3812

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