[§277-1]  Findings and declaration ofnecessity.  The legislature finds and declares that:

(1)  There is a critical problem in establishingconvenient and economical means for transporting fuels and other sources ofenergy from the places of manufacture or storage to distribution areas withinthe State of Hawaii or the places of consumption;

(2)  There would be a maximization of the use ofavailable lands if a state agency were to be authorized to acquire, hold andmanage energy corridors consisting of lands or interest therein, therebycontrolling the use thereof;

(3)  Competition would be fostered and thereby areduction in cost to consumers would be realized if the State could makeavailable energy corridors as the location for the facilities necessary for thetransportation of sources of energy;

(4)  The department of transportation is the agency ofthe State best able to manage and control the energy corridors.  Thelegislature also finds that the acquisition of private property for theaforementioned purposes is necessary, and that such acquisition is for a publicuse. [L 1970, c 33, §1]