(BIVN) – A House Bill that would authorize the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist SpinLaunch Inc., with “the financing of the planning, design, and construction of a satellite launch system”, to be located somewhere in Hawaiʻi, passed the State Senate on Tuesday.

Three of Hawaiʻi Island’s four state senators voted “no” on HB2559 HD1 SD1, and Sen. Russell Ruderman spoke out on the floor of the senate before the vote.

Noting the staunch opposition to space launch facilities from his district in the past, Ruderman said he hopes that “one day, those who propose and advocate for controversial, lifestyle changing major projects with environmental and cultural impacts will talk to the people impacted, and/or their representatives, before they proceed with the proposal.”

The bill initially recommended SpinLaunch, Inc. would construct a satellite launch system on the Island of Hawai‘i – such as Pohue Bay in the Ka‘u District – but the bill has since been changed to allow for the construction of a launch facility “in an unspecified area in Hawai‘i.”

State Senator Glenn Wakai, who supports the bill, saying he would hope the lawmakers “would see the huge opportunities that stand in front of us with a number of small satellites that will need to launched into space in the very near future and see that Hawai‘i could play a very significant role in this for economic benefits as well as scientific discovery.”

Sen. Wakai will be joining Moku O Keawe Aha Moku O Ka‘u in a community meeting on April 14, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Na‘alehu Community Center to discuss the intent of the bill.

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