Ka‘u residents denied due process
How is it that a foreign international corporation, namely SPI, can suddenly announce to a rural community that it will be breaking ground for its large scale industrial solar farm consisting of a scattering of 26 lots within quiet, agriculturally zoned neighborhoods in just a couple of months and has all the required permitting already acquired without anyone knowing about it?
Residents of Ka‘u are wondering, too, because that is exactly what is happening there now because of a poorly written law, namely Hawaii Revised Statute 205-2. In the pursuit of encouraging solar development in Hawaii, our state government threw out pre-existing requirements of special permits, environmental impact studies and community input for the installation of large scale solar energy facilities on agricultural lands.
This particular installation is within three makai subdivisions that will result in very serious and unwelcome consequences that will forever change the lifestyles and livelihood of thousands of residents there.
Can you imagine having 2 acres of solar panels directly across the street of your home, in your backyard or along side? Complete with chainlink fencing, night lights and the like? That will be the reality here soon.
What do you think will happen to property values as a result? Already sellers are feeling the reaction of buyers who do not want to settle or invest because of it. And without the ongoing industry of real estate bringing new homeowners and builders into the community, all local commerce will feel the effects and in some cases come to a grinding halt. Homebuilders, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, grocery and storekeepers, food establishments and services of all kinds will ultimately be affected negatively.
We are not against solar energy. We support our state’s goal of becoming fossil fuel free in the near future. In fact, many already have solar power of their own — either linked to the grid or independent of — but this development is profoundly inappropriate here.
I believe that the permitting of this solar farm has deprived us of our constitutional rights of due process and we want our elected officials to be held responsible for making this happen. What right does our government have to take away our rights? Remember, this can happen in your rural neighborhood, too.
Linda Raquinio
Ka‘u