text: Please provide a cost comparison between some alternatives to this project, such as geo-thermal and PV with batteries. The idea of biomass for fuel evolved from plantation days when bagasse was burned for power. But bagasse was a waste product and burning was better than dumping it in the ocean (done by most Hamakua Coast mills), so eucalyptus was planted. For a while the trees were sold to China for plywood or whatever, but I guess that has failed. There might be merit in bio-mass for power IF albizia was the fuel. We have a big problem with that tree, and it needs to go. UH scientists have proposed to make charcoal from albizia which sounds like a win-win. The proposed cost-savings to consumers from the proposed eucalyptus bio-mass project are not appealing and would lock big island consumers into long-term high cost power. This is wrong and I hope HELCO fights the push to do this project. Big islands are being sold down the eucalyptus river to save some foolish investors!