Hawai'i's unemployed workers can now file for weekly benefits over the Internet.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said the online applications will be another option to filing by telephone or in person. The department receives about 36,000 weekly claims by telephone.

The weekly claims are available through the state's unemployment insurance Web site at www.hawaii.gov/labor/ui.

CLEARFUELS REACHES DEBT-FINANCING DEAL

ClearFuels Technology Inc., an 'Aiea company that is developing biorefineries with partners, said it had signed an agreement with BNP Paribas that calls for the European-based bank to assist it with debt financing.

Under the letter of engagement, BNP Paribas is to consider arranging and acting as the lead lender for debt financing on ClearFuels' first three commercial projects.

ClearFuels is working with a partner on a Colorado-based demonstration project to produce liquid fuels from biomass. The company said it expects to move into commercial projects in the second half of next year.

It said it has begun development of several biomass-to-energy projects on the Mainland, Hawai'i and internationally. BNP Paribas also is parent company of First Hawaiian Bank.

IMADA IBOSHI NAMED DBEDT DEPUTY

State economist Pearl Imada Iboshi has been tapped to serve as deputy director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Iboshi will take over the post from Mark Anderson, who will focus full time on serving as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act coordinator for the state.

Imada Iboshi has been the state's economist since 1995 and has been a member of the Council on Revenues since 1997. She also heads DBEDT's Research and Economic Analysis Division, which produces and distributes business information products, including the State of Hawai'i Data Book.