Interveners seek input on HECO line
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Eight groups and individuals filed motions by yesterday's deadline to intervene in Hawaiian Electric Co.'s application with the Public Utilities Commission to build a $55 million underground transmission line project along the streets of Honolulu.
Citing health concerns of residents in the heavily populated area where the power line would be buried, Sen. Carol Fukunaga, D-11th (Makiki, Pawa'a), Rep. Scott Saiki, D-22nd (McCully, Pawa'a), and City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi filed as a group to intervene on behalf of Mo'ili'ili and McCully residents.
Other interveners include the environmental watchdog group Life of the Land; community groups Malama O Manoa, Ho'olaulima O Palolo, Kapahulu Neighbors and the Palolo Community Council; and individuals Michelle Matson and Carolyn Walther.
If accepted by the PUC, interveners are allowed to take part in and provide testimony during official hearings related to the project.
The number and mix of interveners show widespread concern about the economic, cultural and health effects of HECO's East O'ahu Transmission Line Project, according to Henry Curtis, executive director of Life of the Land.
"The basic reason for intervening comes down to where are we going in the future?" Curtis said. "Energy self-sufficiency is the cornerstone of sustainability. This line further ties us to oil."
The utility's plan is to bury nearly three miles of 46,000-volt lines under streets in the McCully-Mo'ili'ili area over the next five years, a project that will require the excavation of some of the city's busiest streets. Paying for the project will raise monthly residential bills on O'ahu by as much as $1 a month for about 40 years.
HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg said the company has not received copies of all the interveners' filings and will review them before commenting.
Saiki said the group of public officials hadn't taken a position on supporting or opposing the power line project, but decided to intervene because they want access to whatever documents are filed in the case.
"At this point we are more narrowly concerned with any health-related concerns," Saiki said. "It goes right by Lunalilo (Elementary) School."
HECO has until Jan. 14 to file a motion with the PUC stating if it objects to any of the interveners. The PUC will later issue a ruling on who has been allowed to intervene.
The state Consumer Advocate and HECO will then set a timeline on what hearings occur when, beginning with requests for information in the case from all parties involved.
Hawaiian Electric held a series of public meetings earlier this year for help in choosing the route from among three possibilities. HECO says the project will increase the reliability of power transmission to East Honolulu and Waikiki.
Kat Brady, with Life of the Land, said during those public meetings HECO refused to discuss the need for the project, saying that would be addressed by the PUC.
"In the rounds of dog and pony shows this summer they invited the community to have their chance to discuss need at the PUC," Brady said. "I don't see how they can keep any of us out after having opened their arms and invited us in and saying that is the forum to discuss need. If they don't it will further show the contradictions within the company."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
