State briefs for April 19

Hawaii Gas Co. to recycle biogas from sewage plant

HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu officials say they are moving forward with plans to sell biogas produced at the city’s sewage plant to Hawaii Gas Co.

The gas company says it plans to spend about $5 million on equipment to clean the sewage plant’s biogas before adding it into pipelines. It also wants to construct approximately 1 mile of new pipeline to connect its purification system to the company’s existing synthetic natural gas pipeline.

Hawaii Gas would buy gas from the city at $2 a therm. Currently, the gas company purchases gas at about $1.75 per therm.

Biogas is fuel comprised of about 60 percent methane and 40 percent carbon dioxide, which the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant was capturing and burning off.

The city’s biogas would make Hawaii Gas’ fuel supply 5 percent renewable, according to the company.

Hawaii Gas will be able to pump the clean biogas into its system a year after the Public Utility Commission approves its contract with the city, said Joseph Boivin, senior vice president of business development and corporate affairs at Hawaii Gas.

The company hopes to find other renewable gas options in the future, he said.

Environmentalists push for pesticide regulations

KAUAI (AP) — Hawaii environmentalists continue to push for state regulations on pesticide despite state lawmakers’ hesitance.

Members of the environment-focused nonprofit Hawaii SEED recently met with Gov. David Ige to ask him to consider a ban on pesticide chlorpyrifos.

There are no more bills left in the state Legislature related to the pesticide since the House Finance Committee chose not to hear the last one in March.

The governor can still take a stance on the issue, Hawaii SEED member Jeri Di Pietro said.

“We met with the governor and asked him to consider a ban on chlorpyrifos himself,” he said. “There’s no bills left, but he could do that.”

The governor’s office has not released a statement on the issue.