Public policy debates are beginning to take shape now that the dust is settling from the elections.
Whether to eliminate solar tax credits and abolishing the Public Land Development Corporation are two of the more contentious issues so far. Both made headlines this week when policy makes sought input from the public and people with more than a passing interest in the issues.
The state Department of Taxation recently came out with new rules for claiming solar tax credits. The rules clarify how many credits homeowners and large industrial solar operations can take. It’s an effort to cut down on the millions of dollars being claimed, some say inappropriately, that could be staying in the state treasury.
The PLDC continues to be an unpopular agency with the public. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and some lawmakers like it and see it as a way to generate some revenue for the state through partnerships with private developers. But hundreds of people have turned out for public hearings to insist that it be abolished because it has too much power and too little oversight.
And other land-use fights are also ramping up around the state, from the proposed telescope on Haleakala to a resort on Hanalei Bay.
We covered them all, and more. Here are 10 stories you won’t want to have missed:
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It’s Your Money: Hawaii’s Election Holiday Cost Taxpayers Millions
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Hawaii’s Booming Solar Industry In Uproar Over New Tax Credit Rules
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Hundreds Pack School Cafeteria to Protest Hanalei Ridge Development
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UH Officials Rush To Begin Construction On Haleakala Telescope
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Spokesman: Inouye Healthy, Fall Unrelated to Grueling Schedule
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Hawaii Monitor: Advisory Committee Members Forced To Report Finances
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It’s Your Money: Death By Electrocution Costs Honolulu $550K
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About the Author
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Patti Epler is the Editor and General Manager of Civil Beat. She’s been a reporter and editor for more than 40 years, primarily in Hawaii, Alaska, Washington and Arizona. You can email her at patti@civilbeat.org or call her at 808-377-0561.