With $130M in new ‘green fees’ expected, Hawaiʻi eyes 75 projects to address a long list of environment-related needs

HJI / COLLEEN UECHI photo

By Colleen Uechi for Maui Now

An advisory council created by Gov. Josh Green to help the State of Hawai‘i decide how to spend hundreds of millions in new funding from a first-of-its-kind climate impact tax has recommended 75 priority projects for the first round.

Since convening in August, the 10 volunteer members of the council have combed through more than 600 applications from state agencies, environmental organizations and other community groups requesting more than $2 billion for projects aimed at environmental stewardship, climate and hazard resilience, and sustainable tourism. Many of the recommended projects were spurred by the Maui wildfires and would help address needs such as brush management and hazard prevention data. 

Click here to read the full article published by Maui Now on Feb. 3.