The Army plans to decide by the end of the year whether to go ahead with a power plant proposed for Schofield Barracks.

The Army would lease Central Oahu land for the plant to Hawaiian Electric. The utility would operate the plant using at least 50 percent biofuels.

The plant would supply electricity to Oahu’s power grid. During outages, the plant would first power Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield and Field Station Kunia. Any leftover capacity would supply the grid.

The Army on Friday released an environmental impact statement for the plant. The study concludes the project’s effect on the environment and culture would be less than significant.

The plant could also help restart other plants on the island in the event of an islandwide power outage.

Body camera policy could spur complaint by police union

LIHUE » A Hawaii police union will file a Labor Board complaint if it doesn’t get final approval on a policy governing the first widespread use of body cameras in the state.

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers says a body camera policy implemented without its final approval would violate Kauai County’s contract with the union, Hawaii News Now reported.

"We’ve always been in support of the camera," said union president Tenari Maafala. "But we just want to address the concerns of other jurisdictions on the mainland."

Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry said the contract does not give the union final say.

"All we want to make sure is that SHOPO has input," Perry said.

Perry said the policy is in its ninth draft and includes 95 percent of the recommended changes, with the unaddressed portion dealing with when officers can turn cameras on and off.

He said the county addressed concerns over information storage, privacy rights, video requests, training and video review.

Kauai police officers could be using eyewear cameras by mid-November. Maui and Hawaii counties plan to follow.