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Associated Press
15 hours ago
- General
- Associated Press
Hawaii's wetlands are vanishing. This failed plan offers a warning
Last July, excavators and woodchippers appeared on a 7-acre wild thicket of kiawe trees near Kīhei that serves as a crucial habitat for the endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bats during pupping season. Community members raised alarms about the unpermitted work, but the clearing continued unchecked. Within weeks, the Waipu'ilani Mauka wetland — which makes up a small portion of the estimated 83 acres of wetlands left in South Maui — was reduced to a plot of mostly barren red dirt. To prevent this kind of destruction of wetlands without oversight, Maui County lawmakers passed an ordinance in 2022 requiring developers and county planners to take steps to protect these vital habitats. That ordinance has never been fully implemented, let alone enforced. Environmentalists say the county law, which some hoped would serve as a revolutionary blueprint for protecting wetlands across the state, has instead become a cautionary tale of how promised stewardship of the environment can fall flat amid inaction and confusion. Almost three years after the ordinance was enacted, all county officials and lawmakers have managed to do is create a map of the wetlands with a price tag of more than $250,000. Amid ongoing confusion over the 2022 law, environmentalists have filed a lawsuit against the landowners of the Kīhei property and the county arguing that owners should have sought environmental permits that would have required the county to consider how that work would affect the wetland. Developers said in a written statement that they were complying with other county ordinances and addressing fire risk by removing the trees on land zoned for residential use. The next steps in implementing the law — which might clear up such debates — are stalled at the County Council. Environmentalists say that's just a bureaucratic excuse. 'The ordinance itself establishes the policy of the county of Maui,' said Christina Lizzi, an environmental attorney who is challenging a permit issued for another property in an area covered by the wetland ordinance. 'It should have been guiding what they were doing here, and it was completely ignored.' Stronger Protections Residents in South Maui have grown used to flooding in recent years. Big rain storms in the mountains send a rush of muddy water down to the low-lying neighborhoods along the shoreline, sometimes washing out the major road through Kīhei. Environmentalists and local officials blame the flooding on the near total destruction of the area's once prevalent wetlands, which serve as crucial repositories for storm water. Development in South Maui has exploded in the last 50 years, eating away at these environments that serve as crucial flood protection, a habitat for endangered native species and a barrier for sediment runoff that kills coral reefs. The 2022 ordinance was intended to prevent more building in wetland zones, said Kelly King, a former county council member from South Maui who spearheaded the initiative. 'The idea was to try to increase that back up and absorb the storm water, so that we wouldn't have all this flooding,' King said. The law created an explicit policy to protect wetlands and laid out a series of steps to do that. First, it required the county planning department to create a map of wetlands on Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. The council was then supposed to use the map to create a special zoning district that prohibits significant destruction of the wetlands and restricts clearing vegetation or grading the land. The ordinance also set up a process to identify lands that the county should acquire for conservation and required developers for certain projects to generate reports about the feasibility of taking steps to preserve the wetlands before building. By establishing this policy, Maui aimed to go further than the federal government. Under the Clean Water Act, three things need to be present to be considered wetland: water at or near the surface of the ground, certain types of soil and wetland vegetation. Maui took a more expansive definition. If just two of those criteria are met, the area qualifies as a wetland under Ordinance 5421, opening the door for more land to be protected. Putting the broader definition into place became even more urgent in 2023 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that wetlands needed to be connected on the surface of the land to a body of water for federal law to apply. That weakened federal protections for Maui's wetlands, where water often flows into the ocean underground. The ordinance should have become a way for the county to 'fill those gaps in wetlands protection that the federal side was no longer really providing,' said Wesley Crile, a coastal dune restoration specialist at University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant. Faltering Progress The planning department was given a year after the ordinance was enacted in October 2022 to map the wetlands. The county paid environmental consulting firm H. T. Harvey & Associates $274,064.72 to do the work, in consultation with local scientists. But the wildfire that destroyed much of Lahaina in 2023 threw the project off course, and the planning department was granted an extension. When the wetland map was eventually completed in June 2024, environmentalists raised concerns about several key wetlands that were included in previous drafts but were left off the final map. Other areas already set aside for conservation weren't included because they were protected by other means, according to Crile, who was involved in the creation of the map. Then progress ground to a halt. For the ordinance to be put into effect, the county council needs to adopt a wetlands overlay district, County Planning Director Kate Blystone said in an email. Lila Lawrence, a spokesperson from the Maui County Department of Planning, declined interview requests. Before taking that step, the Maui County Council has been waiting for guidance from the Conservation Planning Committee, a group of experts that is supposed to advise the council on conservation and land use issues. But that group doesn't have enough members, and it hasn't met in about two years. Earlier this year, Gabe Johnson, a county council member who chairs the Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, and Public Transportation Committee, introduced a resolution calling on the conservation committee to come up with recommendations. But he didn't think the measure had the support to pass, and lawmakers put off a vote. 'I'm just going to have to wait until the political will comes around,' Johnson said. 'And it might take something like, let's say worst-case scenario, flooding … a natural disaster because we don't manage our wetlands.' Tom Cook, a council member from South Maui, said he's in favor of protecting the wetlands but wants it to be done in a way that doesn't create confusion and concern from property homeowners. He hopes the council picks the issue up again in the fall. 'What I would do is invite all the parties back to give their testimony, so that when we do this overlay map, it is something that is enforceable without too much pushback,' Cook said. Even though the planning department says it is waiting on the council to take action, environmentalists and a former lawmaker who helped pass the measure say the county doesn't have to wait for that to start putting protections in place. 'It was supposed to go into effect as soon as we passed it,' King said. King and environmentalists argue that the ordinance provides a clear mandate that the county protect the wetlands, something it can do without waiting for the incremental steps laid out in the ordinance. Lizzi, the attorney representing the environmentalists in the lawsuit, said the intent is clear: 'Protect the wetlands to a higher degree than any other law that's out there.' Will This Stop Development? Environmental groups that filed the lawsuit over the unpermitted clearing of trees at the Waipu'ilani Mauka wetland say the ordinance should have applied — even if it wasn't implemented yet — and the property owners and the county should have taken steps to weigh how wetlands could be restored or protected. But for others, it's not so clear that action would have been covered by the ordinance. That lack of clarity is why even if the wetlands ordinance does get fully implemented, environmentalists, scientists and policymakers disagree about how far it will go to protect these vulnerable ecosystems. Some, like Crile from Sea Grant, interpret the law to apply only to certain land use changes or larger developments like subdivisions, leaving out single family homes and small buildings — the bulk of permit applications that come through the planning department. Other permits needed for those kinds of projects might take wetlands into account. But this ordinance's requirements, including a report that addresses the potential impacts to the wetlands and the feasibility of restoring them, wouldn't apply to the kinds of homes that already have been built around identified wetlands in South Kīhei. Crile thinks the wetlands protections could be strengthened by extending the law to apply to development of single family homes and other smaller projects. But as it's written now, he says the county ordinance lacks teeth when it comes to those kinds of projects. 'This ordinance is lacking the enforcement mechanism to stop that development, or to say you need to move it outside this area.' Crile said. While other permitting requirements exist, under this ordinance, 'there's nothing that says they can't build there.' King doesn't agree that the ordinance carves out single family homes. She said that interpretation isn't in the spirit of the ordinance, which was put in place, in part, to protect homeowners. 'If you're going to develop on a wetland, you need to know that it's a wetland, and you need to make your decisions whether to go forward based on the fact that you're going to have flooding,' she said. The wetlands aren't left completely vulnerable without the ordinance in place. Other land use regulations require developers to take steps to preserve natural resources. Most of the wetlands, for example, fall within special management areas that require specific permitting and take wetlands into account. But environmental groups are battling land owners and the county over several cases where those other protections didn't prevent development in wetlands areas. It's discouraging to watch this law intended to protect crucial habitats just sit on the shelf, city council member Johnson said. 'Is it frustrating to see our wetlands being disappeared? Is it frustrating to see our wetlands being developed? Is it frustrating to see South Maui flood every year? Is it frustrating to see the mismanagement of our land to resources? Yes,' Johnson said. 'Is there something the county can do? Yes, with this ordinance.' ___ This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
The Verge
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Verge
How Trump's war on clean energy is making AI a bigger polluter
At an AI and fossil fuel lovefest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last week, President Donald Trump — flanked by cabinet members and executives from major tech and energy giants like Google and ExxonMobil — said that 'the most important man of the day' was Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin. 'He's gonna get you a permit for the largest electric producing plant in the world in about a week, would you say?' Trump said to chuckles in the audience. Later that week, the Trump administration exempted coal-fired power plants, facilities that make chemicals for semiconductor manufacturing, and certain other industrial sites from Biden-era air pollution regulations. If Trump has his way, the next generation of data centers will run dirtier than the last. It isn't enough to kill renewables and pave the way for more coal and gas plants to power energy-hungry AI data centers. Trump is also obsessed with tossing out environmental protections. 'It costs much more to do things environmentally clean,' Trump claimed in an interview with Joe Rogan in October 2024. Upon his appointment to head the EPA (or, rather, run it into the ground), Zeldin said that he would be focused on 'unleash[ing] US energy dominance' and 'mak[ing] America the AI capital of the world.' The EPA announced thousands of layoffs on on July 18th, gutting its research and development arm. 'It costs much more to do things environmentally clean.' At the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, Trump attempted to take credit for private investments totaling around $36 billion for data center projects and $56 million for new energy infrastructure. The ceremony itself was mostly pomp and circumstance, but it's telling that the Trump administration says it wants to make Pennsylvania a new hub for AI data centers. It's a swing state that Republicans are eager to move into their column, but it's also a major coal and gas producer. Sitting atop a major gas reserve, fracking in Pennsylvania (as well as Texas) helped usher in the 'shale revolution' in the 2000s that made the US the world's leading gas producer. That was supposed to start changing under former President Joe Biden's direction. He set a goal for the US to get all its electricity from carbon pollution-free sources by 2035. And in 2022, he signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which was full of tax incentives to make it cheaper to build out new solar and wind farms, as well as other carbon-free energy sources. If it had stayed intact, the law was expected to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by around 40 percent this decade. The law came at a crucial time for tech companies, which were expanding data centers as the AI arms race picked up steam. Electricity demand in the US is rising for the first time in more than a decade, thanks in large part to energy-hungry data centers. Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and other tech giants all have their own climate goals, pledging to shrink their carbon footprints by supporting renewable energy projects. But Trump is making it harder to build those projects in the US. Republicans voted to wind down Biden-era tax incentives for solar and wind energy in the big spending bill they passed this month. The bill will likely decrease electricity generation capacity in 2035 by 340 GW, according to one analysis, with the vast majority of losses coming from solar and wind farms that will no longer get built. All these new data centers still need to get their electricity from somewhere. 'They won't be powered by wind,' Trump said during the summit, repeating misleading talking points about renewable energy that have become a cornerstone of new climate denial. He signed an executive order in April, directing the Commerce, Energy, and Interior Departments to study 'where coal-powered infrastructure is available and suitable for supporting AI data centers.' Trump, backed by fossil fuel donors, campaigned on a promise to 'drill, baby, drill' — a slogan that he doubled down on again at the event. He also referenced the Homer City Generating Station, an old coal plant that's reopening as a gas plant that will power a new data center. The deals announced at the summit include Enbridge investing $1 billion to expand its gas pipelines into Pennsylvania and Equinor spending $1.6 billion to 'boost natural gas production at Equinor's Pennsylvania facilities and explore opportunities to link gas to flexible power generation for data centers.' 'They won't be powered by wind.' Data centers are a 'main driver' for a boom in new gas pipelines and power plants in the Southeast, according to a January report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The Southeast is home to 'data center alley,' a hub in Virginia through which around 70 percent of the world's internet traffic flows through. Even if AI models become more efficient over time, the amount of electricity they're currently projected to demand could lock communities across the US into prolonged reliance on fossil fuels as utilities build out new gas infrastructure. Zeldin's job now is essentially to remove any regulatory hurdles that might slow down that growth. From his first day in office, 'it was clear that EPA would have a major hand in permitting reform to cut down barriers that have acted as a roadblock so we can bolster the growth of AI,' as Zeldin wrote in a Fox News op-ed last week. 'A company looking to build an industrial facility or a power plant should be able to build what it can before obtaining an emissions permit,' he added. And after moving to roll back pollution regulations for power plants, the Trump administration is now reportedly working on a rule that would undo the 2009 'endangerment finding' that allows the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Zeldin also writes that when it comes to Clean Air Act permits for polluters it considers 'minor emitters,' the EPA will only meet 'minimum requirements for public participation.' An AI Action Plan that the White House dropped on July 23rd proposes creating new categorical exclusions for data center-related projects from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a sunshine law that mandates input from local communities on major federal projects. The plan directs agencies to identify federal lands for the 'large-scale development' of data centers and power generation. There are other factors at play that could derail Trump's fossil-fueled agenda, including a backlog for gas turbines in high demand. Solar and wind farms are still generally faster to build and a more affordable source of new electricity than coal or gas, and we could see some developers rush to complete projects before Biden-era tax credits fully disappear. One early bright spot for renewables was the fact that data centers used to train AI are theoretically easier to build close to far-flung wind and solar projects. Unlike other data centers, they don't need to be built near population centers to reduce latency. They could also theoretically time their operations to match the ebb and flow of electricity generation when the sun shines and winds blow. But so far, things are shaping up differently in the real world. 'It's just a race to get connected as quickly as possible,' says Nathalie Limandibhratha, senior associate US power at BloombergNEF. Data center developers are also concerned that if they build facilities specifically to train AI closer to renewable energy, they could be left with stranded assets down the road. They'd rather keep building data centers close to population centers where they can repurpose the facility for other uses if needed. They also get more bang for their buck running 24/7, so data centers are leaning toward around-the-clock electricity generation from gas and nuclear energy (and nuclear energy has more bipartisan support than other sources of carbon-free energy). 'There's no question right now that AI is driving greater fossil fuel use in the United States and really setting us back in terms of climate change,' says Cathy Kunkel, an energy consultant at IEEFA. Tech giants Google and Amazon made announcements coinciding with the Pennsylvania summit committing to purchasing hydropower and nuclear energy, respectively. But their most recent sustainability reports show that their greenhouse gas pollution is still growing, taking them further away from their climate goals of reaching net zero emissions. 'If [tech companies] wanted to meet their sustainability goals, they could do so,' Kunkel says. 'They're getting a free pass, obviously, from the Trump administration.'Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Justine Calma Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All AI Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Analysis Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Climate Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Energy Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN's top court: failing to protect planet from climate change may be violation of international law
The United Nations' top court announced Wednesday that if countries fail to take measures to protect the planet from climate change, they could be in violation of international law.
Associated Press
21 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Voyageur Services Limited Completes High-Priority Land Clearing for Hydro One's Holt Road Substation
Voyageur Services, in support of Aecon Power Division, successfully completes land clearing scope for Hydro One's Holt Road substation, Clarington, Ontario 'This project is a perfect example of what can be accomplished through urgency, alignment, and shared values'— Clint Keeler, CEO, Voyageur Services MISSISSAUGAS OF SCUGOG ISLAND FIRST NATION, ONTARIO, CANADA, July 23, 2025 / / -- Voyageur Services Limited, in support of Aecon Power Division, has successfully completed the land clearing scope for Hydro One 's upcoming Holt Road substation. The project was delivered on an accelerated schedule to meet a critical environmental deadline, ensuring work was completed before April 1st to avoid disruption to the nesting season of native birds and bats. The completion of this work exemplifies how companies can work in collaboration with First Nations and Indigenous businesses to undertake projects, while meeting critical project timelines and milestones. Building in partnership truly results in better projects. Mobilizing within hours of receiving the call, Voyageur executed the scope with a firm commitment to environmental protection, archaeological sensitivity, and Indigenous best practices. Specialized crane mats, provided by Northern Mat & Bridge, enabled heavy equipment access without disturbing the ground, ensuring full compliance with cultural and environmental standards. 'This project is a perfect example of what can be accomplished through urgency, alignment, and shared values,' said Clint Keeler, President of Voyageur Services Limited. 'We're proud of our team for responding so quickly and professionally—and we're thankful to our partners for their trust in our ability to deliver without compromise.' 'We are proud of the strong partnership between the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation and Hydro One, exemplified by the successful Holt Road substation project,' said Chief Kelly LaRocca, Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. 'Through our majority ownership of Voyageur Services Limited via Noozhoo Nokiiyan LP, we are driving economic opportunities while upholding our commitment to environmental stewardship and cultural respect. This project showcases our community's ability to deliver exceptional results with integrity and collaboration.' The work was conducted safely, efficiently, and ahead of schedule. The site was fully cleared before the environmental cut-off date, allowing Hydro One's next phase of development to proceed without delay. 'This wasn't just about speed,' Keeler added. 'It was about doing it right—protecting the environment, respecting Indigenous archaeological best practices, and ensuring the work met the highest possible standard. Meeting those goals is what defined this as a successful project.' Voyageur extends its appreciation to Aecon Power Division, Hydro One, and Northern Mat & Bridge for their collaboration, trust, and shared commitment to meaningful project outcomes. Clint Keeler Voyageur Services +1 905-261-0406 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Ocean Mining Ban Isn't Necessarily Good
Amid all the setbacks these days for environmental protection, the de-facto ban on deep-sea mining feels like a small, rare victory. The International Seabed Authority, the United Nations agency that governs mineral extraction from the ocean floor, has spent much of the past month arguing over rules that might finally allow the harvesting of metal. To those who want to prevent such exploitation, the wrangling is the point: The ongoing failure to agree on regulations, 43 years after the ISA was established, ensures that no such mining will take place.
