Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House gave final approval today to the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, voting to send nearly $800,000 to Hawaii for three watershed projects, and $240,000 to help the American Red Cross in Honolulu build a backup disaster energy system using photovoltaic panels, all requested by Rep. Neil Abercrombie. 

“Less than five years ago, flooding of the Manoa Stream caused more than $100 million in damage to homes and the University of Hawaii campus, and put lives at risk,” said Abercrombie. “That event highlighted the need to do everything we can to protect residents and homes from the ravages of such floods, and protect the watersheds themselves from the environmental damage that flows downstream and into delicate coves and bays.”

The Ala Wai Watershed project will receive $308,000 under the legislation to include flood prevention and mitigation measures in the Manoa, Palolo and Makiki Streams, in addition to environmental restoration work already underway.  

Eight miles away, the potential for flooding in the Wailupe Stream watershed threatens as many as 600 buildings in the Aina Haina community. Today’s legislation contains $175,000 to complete preconstruction design and engineering on the Wailupe Stream Flood Damage Reduction project.

The South Maui Watershed encompasses a range of conditions, including arid areas, flooding problems, compromised water quality and significant pressures from building and development. The bill includes $300,000 to conduct an Army Corps of Engineers reconnaissance study to determine exactly how changes in urban settlement patterns and land management practices may have contributed to storm water run-off, flooding and degradation of Maui’s ecosystems.

In addition to watershed projects, Abercrombie requested $240,000 to help the American Red Cross purchase and install photovoltaic solar panels with battery support as a renewable energy demonstration, which will generate at least 50% of the Red Cross facility’s energy needs. The solar panels also provide a back-up power source in disaster situations, vital because Hawaii’s location prevents borrowing energy from neighboring state electrical grids.  The Red Cross receives no federal funds for its disaster services or operation.

Rep. Abercrombie joined with other Members of the House to request $3,000,000 for the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research (CPBR), located on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The organization funds research and technology transfer for energy security and the reduction of greenhouse gasses, and offers grants to help develop and improve such existing technologies as renewable energy, biofuels, “green” chemicals and industrial manufacturing processes to environmental remediation.

The University of Hawaii has won a number of energy research grants from the Consortium, spawning a “flash carbonization” technology developed by UH professor Dr. Michael Antal. The process uses heat and pressure to turn tires, green waste and municipal solid waste to “biochar,” or charcoal that can be used to enhance soil or burn as a fuel. This technology turns waste to energy in under an hour, could help to reduce local landfills, create jobs and produce clean energy from recycled waste.

“This UH energy research led directly to two energy companies, Carbon Diversion and Pacific Carbon and Graphite,” Abercrombie said. “The firms are now building environmentally friendly industries and creating high paying jobs in Hawaii.”

-30-