Current through September, 2024
Section 15-36-11 - Public meetings(a) As soon as reasonably practicable following acceptance of a permit plan application, the energy resources coordinator shall hold a public meeting on the island where a renewable energy facility is proposed to be developed to: (1) Allow members of the affected communities to provide input regarding the development of the renewable energy facility;(2) Promote public awareness of the plan for the renewable energy facility in the proposed area; and(3) Allow the coordinator, the renewable energy facilitator, the applicant, and any applicable agency to gain public sentiment and input regarding the proposed development of the renewable energy facility, and to incorporate to the extent reasonable and practicable the public sentiment and input into the planning of the proposed renewable energy facility.(b) Notice of the public meeting shall be published at least once on the island where the renewable energy facility is proposed and statewide, and shall be mailed to the applicant, to persons who have made a timely written request of the coordinator for advance notice of the meeting, and to all federal, state, and county agencies identified in the permit plan application at least fifteen days in advance of the meeting.(c) The coordinator shall allow all interested persons an opportunity to submit oral or written testimony on any agenda item in the public meeting. The coordinator may, for reasonable administration of testimony, limit the time for each person's oral testimony.(d) During the public meeting, the coordinator may have removed any person who wilfully disrupts the meeting to prevent or compromise the conduct of the meeting.(e) The coordinator shall coordinate with federal, state, and county agencies that are required to process permits applicable to the renewable energy facility so that the public meeting held hereunder may comply with and satisfy the procedures and requirements for a public meeting or hearing applicable to such permits.(f) The coordinator shall coordinate with federal, state, and county agencies that are required to process permits applicable to the renewable energy facility to combine the public meetings or hearings required in the permit plan application into as few meetings as possible and allow for separate agencies to hear several different permit applications at one meeting. Notice of such combined meetings shall be in accordance with the applicable federal, state, or county requirements.[Eff. JUL 01 2010] (Auth: HRS § 201N-12) (Imp: HRS §§ 201N-3, 201N-5, 201N-6, 201N-7, 201N-10)