Hawaii

Hawaii Offers $200K to Federal Facility for Zero Waste Conversion

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie was at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (ARS-PBARC) in Hilo to present the facility with a $200,000 check from the state Agriculture Department.

Gov.Neil Abercrombie at PBARC event

Gov.Neil Abercrombie at PBARC event (photo – HI Governor’s Office)

This unusual sight of a state official awarding funds to a federal facility underlines the value of the program in question – a sustainable zero waste conversion project that has the capability to turn unmarketable papaya into high protein animal feed and biofuels.

The system was developed by PBARC in partnership with BioTork Hawaii LLC, which is based in Gainesville, Florida. PBARC has already invested more than a million dollars into the project.

The $200,000 state investment is meant for use in shifting the program from the lab to a pilot project and then towards commercialized production.

With this investment, the State of Hawaii’s Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) joins PBARC and BioTork Hawaii LLC as a venture partner for the global export of this conversion technology, where a microbial strain was able to break down papaya culls into oil and animal feed in 14 days in a heterotrophic process which does not require sunlight.

Tom Lyons, chief science officer of BioTork, explained that papaya culls were used for the project because of its large-scale availability in Hawaii. He added that the objective was to demonstrate that the same approach will work on all industrial and agricultural by-products to create high protein meals for animals along with renewable energy in the form of biofuels.

Apart from the pilot project, PBARC is also working on developing a number of different microbial strains that can convert specific industrial and agricultural waste products.

Gov. Abercrombie said this technological capability would give Hawaii an edge in feed research and biofuels. Local farmers would be able to convert waste into additional revenue, and at the same time reduce Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels and animal feed imported from the mainland.

Papaya farmers and others who use huge amounts of unmarketable tropical foods directly as feedstock will improve their bottomlines by using this technology or selling the feedstock to others who do. Apart from this direct local impact, initial estimates suggest that full-scale export of this technology will create another 1,000 new jobs in Hawaii.

The technological impact on a nationwide level could be huge if PBARC can successfully scale the project up to sustainable and large-scale commercial production. The U.S. produces 20 million metric tons worth of culled produce, which the PBARC-Biotork technology could convert into 1.7 billion gallons of renewable lipids.

Microsoft to Open Five New Retail Stores in US

Microsoft has announced that it will be opening five new retail store locations by this summer. This is in addition to the six stores the company announced it was opening late last year.

Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store (photo – microsoft.com)

The locations for the five new stores are as follows:-

- Natick Mall, Natick, Massachusetts;

- Ala Moana Center, Honolulu, Hawaii;

- Pioneer Place, Portland, Oregon;

- The Somerset Collection, Troy, Michigan; and

- Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Illinois.

In a blog post announcing these new locations, Jonathan Adashek, General Manager, Communications Strategy, Sales & Marketing Services Group, Microsoft, said that the exact dates for these store openings will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Please keep an eye out as we continue to open Microsoft retail stores near you – we can’t wait to welcome you into the Microsoft retail stores!,” added Adashek.

When making the Dec 2012 announcement, Adshek had noted that Microsoft was willing to adjust its strategy, and open additional stores to “deliver the choice, value and service our Microsoft customers have come to expect.”

Apart from the associate jobs created, taxes generated and the spillover to other businesses in the area, there are quite a few community development benefits related to a Microsoft Store.

For instance, every Microsoft retail store has a dedicated “Community Development Specialist” position. This employee works with local organizations to arrange in-store events and activities that help drive awareness of their causes within the community, while offering the opportunity to learn new technology skills.

Microsoft retail stores host events such as local chamber of commerce meetings and workshops for women re-entering the workforce.

Also, Microsoft celebrates each new retail store opening with a donation of more than $1 million in software grants to selected local organizations that will help create opportunities for local youth through technology, training and experiences that empower them to realize their full potential.

Last year, when Microsoft opened a retail store with 50 new jobs at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington, New York, they donated $1.5 million in software grants to local community organizations. As per the microsoftstore.com website, a total of $22 million has been similarly donated in communities where new stores have opened.

Last year, Microsoft opened 51 new Full-line and Specialty stores, including the company’s first international stores in Canada in Edmonton, Burnaby, Vancouver and Toronto. The London store opening in the United Kingdom next month will be Microsoft’s first store outside North America.

Auwahi Wind Farm Opens in Maui, HI – Clean Electricity for 10,000 Homes

Right before the end of the year, Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and BP Wind Energy sneaked in the commercial opening of the 21 megawatt Auwahi Wind facility on the Ulupalakua Ranch in Maui, Hawaii.

Auwahi Wind Farm in Maui, Hawaii

Auwahi Wind Farm in Maui, Hawaii (photo – .semprausgp.com)

The power from Auwahi Wind has been sold to Maui Electric Company (MECO) under a 20-year contract. The turbines will generate enough clean electricity to power about 10,000 typical Maui homes.

“We are very pleased to complete construction of Auwahi Wind both on time and on budget,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and CEO of Sempra U.S. Gas & Power. “The addition of new, clean energy from our project will be a boost for Maui’s infrastructure and will help Hawaii achieve its goal of securing 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. This project could not have been built without the enthusiastic support of the local community, the Ulupalakua Ranch and neighbors who recognize the importance of sustainable energy.”

An important component of the project is a 10 MW battery capable of storing 4.4 megawatt-hours of power. Energy from the battery will help regulate and sustain power to the MECO grid during light wind conditions.

“It was just seven months ago that the groundbreaking for Auwahi Wind was held and today we’re celebrating its completion,” said former Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, who has just been appointed as the U.S. Senator for Hawaii. “What a great way to end a banner year for wind energy in Hawaii. This project is an important step toward energy self-sufficiency and has the added benefit of helping Ulupalakua remain financially viable and preserve a ranching lifestyle on Maui and protect open space and habitat for native plants and animals.”

Construction of the wind farm on Ulupalakua Ranch began in March 2012, and involved more than 180 workers. The high-speed construction within seven months and the opening of the wind farm a few days before the year-end is likely because there was doubt about whether the wind energy tax credit (PTC) would be extended.

“BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power have been terrific partners,” said Sumner Erdman, president of Ulupalakua Ranch. “The Auwahi project protects the environment, maximizes wind as a renewable energy resource and allows us to maintain the rural open space and grazing areas necessary for us to raise our cattle.”

Hawaii ED Agency Gets $250,000 Grant for Space Infrastructure

The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) has got itself a $250,000 grant for “Space Transportation Infrastructure” from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Space shuttle

Space shuttle (Photo – NASA.gov)

The grant is supposed to be used to conduct environmental and other feasibility analyses for a potential FAA commercial launch site operator’s license.

The federal matching grants fund up to 50 percent of the total project cost in conjunction with state and local government funding. In addition, the grants require that a minimum of 10 percent of the total project cost come from private funding.

The FAA gave another $200,000 to Colorado’s Front Range Airport Authority for the same thing. The East Kern Airport District at California’s Mojave Spaceport got $23,750 from the FAA for acquisition of a pyrolance, which is a dual firefighting piercing system to aid in rapid response to rescue emergencies and to fires involving launch vehicles.

The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is responsible for licensing and promoting the commercial space transportation industry. Since the office was created in 1984, the FAA has licensed the operation of eight FAA-approved launch sites known as spaceports.

As per the most recent AST study for the year 2009, commercial space transportation and enabled industries (CST&EI) generated a total of $208.3 billion in economic activity in the United States. Over one million people throughout the country were employed as a result of this activity, with earnings that exceeded $53 billion.

The launch vehicle manufacturing and services industry (LVM&SI) generated a total of $828 million in economic activity in the United States for the same year. Some 3,820 people throughout the country were employed within this industry, with earnings estimated to be $219 million.

“These investments will help us continue to develop a safe and robust commercial space industry in the United States,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“Government and private sector partnerships are essential to carrying out our national space policies,” said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta. “Today’s grants help keep America competitive by investing in space transportation infrastructure development.”

Economic Gains For Second Quarter in Hawaii

www.mauisales.com/

The state of Hawaii saw economic gains for the second quarter of 2012.

The economic report was released by the Department of Business, Tourism and Development. The majority of the economic conditions remained positive while the sector of tourism experienced the most amount of growth. The economic gains in the second quarter were accompanied by a lower unemployment rate and an increase in spending and the amount of visitors to the state. When compared to the quarter of last year, the unemployment rate decreased almost a whole percentage point. It was originally 10.3 percent but the new rate is 9.2 percent.

The county of Hawaii gained approximately 1,200 non-agriculture jobs which is an increase of 2 percent when compared to the quarter of last year.

The job increases were in the sectors of:

  1. Food Services
  2. Accommodation

Job losses were in the sectors of:

  1. Business Services
  2. Entertainment and Recreation

Wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing were all sectors that saw 150 jobs added. For the second quarter of 2012, government jobs decreased. In all of the counties in Hawaii, visitor arrivals and spending increased. For the big island, arrivals by visitors increased to 8 percent while hotel occupancy increased 6 percent when compared to last year.

Many of the officials expect economic growth to continue for 2012 and the rest of 2013. The State Department of Business Director states that visitor arrivals reached an all-time high for 2012. Even though non tourism sectors have not fully recovered, there are positive signs in the near future. State support and policy tools will be utilized to support sectors such as renewable energy, light manufacturing and construction. The Department of Business projects that visitor arrivals will have increased to approximately 8.6 percent for the year 2012.

Overall, the economic gains are positive news for the state of Hawaii and the residents.

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Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie Signs Senate Bills To Reduce Dependence On Imported Oil

http://hawaii.gov/gov/

Governor Neil Abercrombie has officially signed bills to assist the region of Hawaii as they reduce their dependence on oil that is imported.

The measures that were approved include Senate Bills 2787 and 2785 and they were considered to be priorities to the Governor.

The Governor also thanked the Legislature as they realized the importance of moving renewable energy projects forward as the state of Hawaii benefits.

Governor Abercrombie states that the measures are indicative of the sustainable nature of Hawaii as they aim to be more open to renewable projects and become much more independent.

The next step in the process is to seek infrastructure investments so that the electric grids can remain stable so that new renewable energy technologies can be created.

The components of Senate Bill 2787 include:

  1. The Public Utilities Commission developing and enforcing interconnection requirements and reliability standards
  2. Contracting the performance of related duties

The components of Senate Bill 2785 include:

  1. Establishing a structure for the installation of a “high voltage electric transmission cable system”
  2. Construction of a transmission infrastructure

Back in early January, Governor Abercrombie promised that every option would be looked at while respecting the environment in the process. The Governor also assigned Lt. Governor Brian Schatz as a coordinator as he supports the energy priorities and makes sure that the state of Hawaii continues it development in the future. Lt. Governor Schatz states that the 2 new laws push the Governors initiative of implementing a clean energy type of program. The Lt. Governor finally elaborated on how Hawaii is leading the nation in clean energy and hopes that they can continue down the path of relying less on imported oil. Two other laws were signed also which include SB2150 and SB2746.

Overall, the newly signed bills are going to benefit the entire state of Hawaii.

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Economic Indicators Display Positive Signs For Hawaii and The U.S.

http://uhhconferencecenter.com/green/

Many of the economic indicators are showing that the state of Hawaii and the United States is continuously growing.

The DBEDT (Department of Economic Development, Business and Tourism) came out with the economic report that showed growth rates across different sectors for the state of Hawaii. The economic report analyzes the second quarter of 2012. The DBEDT economic report indicated that the state of Hawaii is expected to have a growth rate of 2.2 percent over the 2012 year while a projected growth rate that is similar in 2013. One of the Directors of the DBEDT elaborates on how the overall economy is starting to become similar to the normal curve which is positive news for the entire country.

The amount of visitors to the region of Hawaii is also expected to increase and reach a peak for 2012 as 7.7 million tourists visit the area. The construction industry will receive a boost as building permits are expected to increase approximately 46 percent. The DBEDT report also indicated that the visitor arrival is expected to increase approximately 6.5 percent which is nearly 2 percent higher than it was projected. Spending is also going to make an impact as more visitors come to the state of Hawaii. Projected spending is projected to increase by almost 9 percent for the year 2012.

Looking at all of the combined forecasting agencies, the United States is expected to have a growth rate of nearly 2.3 percent for the year 2012. The inflation rate is also expected to increase approximately 2.4 percent which is a change of .3 percent since the past month of February.

Some of the economic indicators which are expected to experience a growth rate include:

  1. Gross Domestic Product
  2. Consumer Inflation
  3. Personal Income

Overall, the positive economic indicators are good news for the state of Hawaii and the entire country.

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Brand New Site Selection for Landfill in Honolulu, Hawaii

www.findingdulcinea.com/

The site selection for a brand new landfill might be determined soon for the region of Honolulu, Hawaii.

The final list has been narrowed down by a selection committee for the landfill after taking nearly 1 year to analyze the ideal location. A report will ultimately be created by the selection committee in which the top sites will be ranked according to everything except the address of the locations. The Mayor of Hawaii whose name is Peter Carlisle and the selection committee started to look up possible locations for the gathered up trash during the month of January in 2011. A Managing Director also states that the entire process has been elaborate and precise as no “stone is left unturned”.

The list of final recommendations is expected to be completed at a public meeting and no exact locations are known as of right now. The committee will ultimately utilize a variety of screening factors in order to determine the proper location to place the gathered up trash. The Managing Director named Doug Chin wants to make sure that the process is free from politics and does not want too much information released to the public because it might cause contention within the community. A Council Member on the other hand states that holding back information will have the opposite effect and will further anger the community after the list of potential sites are announced.

The Council Chairman of Hawaii elaborates on how the community should work in collaboration and have a participating voice during the process of site selection. There were ultimately approximately 460 possible sites that were considered but due to the screening process, only 5 to 6 potential sites will be chosen for the establishment of the landfill in Honolulu.

Overall, the site selection of the landfill should be placed at a location that is in compliance with the community and the screening factors.

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