Posted at 12:03 p.m., Friday, June 28, 2002
State panel rejects Wa'ahila power project
Advertiser Staff
In a 68-page ruling released at noon today, the Board of Land and Natural Resources today denied Hawaiian Electric Co.'s request to use conservation land for its 138,000-volt transmission line along Wa'ahila Ridge.HECO wanted to use conservation land to install a 138,000-volt transmission line to link the Pukele substation at the back of Palolo Valley to the Kamoku substation at Date and Kamoku streets, 3.8 miles away.
The project would have replaced 20 40-foot wooden poles between Dole Street and the Pukele substation with steel poles as tall as 110 feet.
HECO officials said the work is needed to ensure service to 54 percent of its customers and to prevent major power failures.
Environmental and historic preservation groups say they are happy with the board's decision and that the project was never needed. They also contended that construction would be an unsightly intrusion on the conservation district and detract from its use by Native Hawaiians as a cultural and spiritual site.
HECO will now decide whether to file a motion for reconsideration with the land board or appeal the decision to the Circuit Court.
