By local and wire sources
Police search for missing teens
Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in locating two West Hawaii teens reported as missing.
Chance Gorelangton did not return to his Waimea home on Dec. 2, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds with straight black hair, brown eyes and a tan complexion, according to police. Gorelangton was last seen wearing blue surf shorts and a black-and-white checkered sweatshirt.
Austin Imholt, a 17-year-old Kailua-Kona boy, also failed to return to his home on Oct. 29, according to police.
He is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 145 pounds, with a fair complexion, blond curly hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing green, red and yellow surf shorts, a white tank top and black slippers.
Imholt also has a black outlined “gothic-style” tattoo on his right forearm and a tattoo with the word “IMHOLT” in Old English lettering on his back.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call Officer Robert Sakata at 326-4646, ext. 276, or the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Police arrest 31 for suspected DUI
Police arrested 31 drivers for suspected drunken driving between Jan. 19 and Sunday; 10 were involved in traffic accidents and three were younger than 21.
Police have made 31 suspected DUI arrests this year compared with 22 during the same period in 2011, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
South Hilo officers nabbed a dozen drivers, Kona officers nine and Puna officers eight. South Kohala and Ka’u officers arrested one motorist in each district, according to police.
There have been 19 major accidents this year compared with 32 during the same period last year.
Tesoro to sell refinery, gas stations in Hawaii
HONOLULU — Tesoro Corp. plans to sell off its operations in Hawaii this year.
Tesoro President and CEO Greg Goff says the Kapolei refinery and 32 gas stations are no longer in line with the company’s strategic focus.
Tesoro and Chevron Corp. run the state’s two refineries. Tesoro expects to finalize the sale in the second half of 2012, subject to regulatory and other approvals.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the state will work with the company and other stakeholders to ensure there is no disruption in fuel production or distribution.
Abercrombie also says the announcement is a reminder that Hawaii must move toward alternative or renewable energies.
Man pleads guilty to child porn in Hawaii
HONOLULU — A British national is pleading guilty to one count of producing child pornography, and admits having molested three boys.
Thirty-nine-year-old Simon McCarty has been held in Hawaii since his arrest in August 2008, when he tried to fly from Hawaii to Oahu with digital media containing child pornography. The evidence seized from his luggage and laptop computer included about 400 still images and nearly 200 videos of child porn, including videos of the three boys he molested between 2005 and 2007 outside the United States.
McCarty entered his plea on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright, who ordered him to be sentenced on June 12.
Agriculture secretary promotes biofuels
PEARL HARBOR, Oahu — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack toured Pearl Harbor on a visit Tuesday meant to highlight the Obama administration’s commitment to renewable energy.
Navy ferries partially powered by biofuel take tourists from a visitor’s center across the harbor to the memorial above the USS Arizona battleship that sank in the Japanese bombing on Dec. 7, 1941. The six boats are capable of using entirely biofuel, but currently run on a 20 percent-biodiesel blend.
Vilsack’s department and the Navy signed an agreement in 2010 to develop advanced biofuels, and one of their projects is on Maui. They are working with Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar — the owner of Hawaii’s last sugar plantation — to research and develop crops capable of fueling Navy fighter jets and ships.
The Navy aims to use biofuels for half of its fuel needs by 2020. To meet this goal, it’s been pouring money into algae, sugar and other crops that could become alternatives to fossil fuels.
The Agriculture Department supports investments to help the U.S. develop renewable energy that will be more innovative and competitive than energy developed elsewhere around the world, Vilsack said.
“Advanced biofuels provide landowners, businesses and communities in Hawaii and throughout the country the opportunity to pursue new energy advancements that create jobs and build a stronger economy,” he said in a statement.
This summer, the Navy plans to using a cooking oil and algae biofuel blend to power U.S. vessels and aircraft participating in the world’s largest naval exercises. The Navy is spending $12 million to buy 425,000 gallons of biofuel to use in the Rim of the Pacific exercises off Hawaii.
President Barack Obama last year set an ambitious goal of reducing U.S. oil imports by one-third by 2025. Obama said the U.S. would increase the use of biofuels and natural gas to reach that goal, as well as boost domestic oil production and make vehicles more energy efficient.
Solar plant files complaint against Idaho Power
POCATELLO, Idaho — A struggling manufacturing plant has filed a complaint with the state utility regulator accusing Idaho Power Co. of overcharging on its electric bills.
Hoku Materials included the allegation in its response filed Monday with the Public Utilities Commission, the latest development in the Hawaii company’s squabble with the state’s biggest utility. Hoku officials say Idaho Power is charging them for more power than is actually being used at its polysilicon plant, part of which is under construction.
Hoku executives also say they have paid more than $11 million to Idaho Power since April 2011, even though the facility wasn’t even connected to the grid until November and had paid $65,000 a day for power despite using less than $1,000 of power each day during commissioning activities.
“We believe that Hoku is being treated unfairly by Idaho Power, and we are asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to help us resolve this inequity,” said Scott Paul, CEO of Hoku Corp.
The company has asked the state regulator to help resolve the dispute and amend its contract with the utility. The commission is expected to hear oral arguments in the case Wednesday.
By local and wire sources