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+--- Thread: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits (/showthread.php?tid=10536)
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - robguz - 07-23-2012
I'd love to see geothermal expanded in compliance with existing laws and with emergency response plans. I have no problem with the Big Island supplying electricity to the whole state. Imagine all the living wage jobs that could be created and sustained. Sure, nobody wants one in their back yard. They should be developed in sites without immediate neighbors whenever possible, or with neighboring properties bought out in the process. Every time I see our government vehicles spraying herbicide along many miles of roadway here and the many thousands of gallons of hazardous materials just spread everywhere, I think about how much more environmentally damaging that is than the PGV plant which supplies 30% of our electricity! I also think our population not making use of geothermal resources would be like the state of Texas not drilling for oil anywhere but in one small spot in the state. The difference of course being that geothermal wells don't have anywhere near the environmental impact that oil drilling has.
All those opposed to geothermal at all costs are by default aggressively in favor of shipping millions of gallons of diesel to Hawaii and then burning it here in noisy, polluting power plants that run at all hours and have bright lights. I'm sure the oil industry is happy to have your support.
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - opihikao - 07-26-2012
Nailed it again, pahoated (Re: HELCO/PUC)! Thanks for the link. FYI, Some history on the relationship between ORMAT & HEI:
Request from Sen. Malama Solomon to Atty. General to investigate "price fixing":
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/bills/SCR85_.pdf
Robert Clarke - on ORMAT Board / Retired CEO & Pres. of HEI:
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=277856&ticker=ORMT:IT&previousCapId=4306112&previousTitle=ORMAT%20TECHNOLOGIES%20INC
1989 Press Release announcing HEI purchase of 50% of plant from ORMAT:
http://theormatstory.wikispaces.com/file/view/Hawaiian+Electric+Industries+and+Ormat+Energy+Systems+Announce+Execution+of+a+Memorandum+of+Understanding.pdf
Whalesong, where did you hear that permits are being pulled for the Pohoiki Road area, near the park, please? Is this the old UH site you're talking about, or a new permit? Whose property, as Lyman's is already under lease to ORMAT, including 4 corners area. Thank you.
Doesn't the community get this information at public hearing or something (if it's a new permit)? Really need some light shed on this whole issue, factual information would be helpful, as so much is unsubstaintiated. Just my opinion.
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - whalesong - 07-26-2012
Whalesong, where did you hear that permits are being pulled for the Pohoiki Road area, near the park, please? Is this the old UH site you're talking about, or a new permit? Whose property, as Lyman's is already under lease to ORMAT, including 4 corners area. Thank you.
It's all here- please sign the petition
Petition for the Health and Safety of the
People and Aina of Hawaii County
http://www.change.org/petitions/hawaii-county-mayor-hawaii-county-council-protect-the-health-and-safety-of-the-people-from-geothermal-development?utm_campaign=share_button_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=23878189
We, an alliance of people of Hawaii, taking inspiration from our kapuna and our keiki, hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men and women on the Big Island are created equal and their safety and health are inalienable rights. These rights take precedent over the rights of corporations and governments to make profits at the expense of the people.
To protect the health and safety of the people of Hawaii and, the Aina, it is the duty of the people to take peaceful and democratic action, and to elect leaders who will take steps to protect us.
The history of geothermal plants in Hawaii have been a long train of abuses and usurpations. To prove this, let these facts be submitted to a candid world:
When the first geothermal plant in Puna, HGP-A, was drilled in 1976, the project was presented as a strictly experimental, two year demonstration project and not a production well. In 1982, despite commitments to the public, a three-megawatt power plant went on line. No community meetings were held explaining the change. The geothermal power plant continued for eight years and was shut down in 1989. HGP-A dumped the toxic geothermal brine into unlined ponds that fouled the air, land and water. Federal regulatory agencies deemed their effluent abatement systems unacceptable. From Harry Kim's testimony to the Hawaii Environmental Council, http://www.bigislandchronicle.com/?s=harry+kim%27s+testimony&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0
There has already been a major accident at PGV in 1991, when PGV had a well blow out that vented more than 2,200 pounds of hydrogen sulfide over a 31 hour period, killing animals and forcing the evacuation of at least 75 Puna Residents. LA Times, June 15, 1991 http://articles.latimes.com/1991-06-15/news/mn-503_1_puna-geothermal-venture
Based on a detailed review of emergency response capabilities at PGV in 1996, the EPA made numerous safety recommendations, including the development of a site specific evacuation plan. Sixteen years later, these recommendations have not been implemented and we still do not have an evacuation plan for the local community, even though our records show 18 declared civil defense emergencies at PGV between 1991 and 1999. We have not been able to obtain the records after that. We believe there have been many more releases. (http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/puna/emerfinal.pdf )
Since then, PGV's parent company Ormat has gone to great lengths to insulate themselves from financial liability in the event of a catastrophic accident. If you look up Puna Geothermal Venture in the state of Hawaii's business registration website, you see the stated owners for Puna Geothermal are two entities named “Orni8 LLC and OrPuna LLC.” It is clear they are designed to protect Ormat's assets from liability.
PGV does not own the power plant that they are operating in Puna. Ormat's 2011 10K report states that,”Pursuant to a 31-year head lease, PGV leased its geothermal power plant to an unrelated company in return for prepaid lease payments in the total amount of $83.0 million. The unrelated company simultaneously leased back the Puna Power Plant to PGV under a 23-year lease.” This means in the event of a catastrophic accident or liability for toxic releases, PGV would have no assets to garner, and Ormat is protected by LLC’s.
There has been continuous drilling, despite statements made in 2002-2003 that due to PGV being the hottest well in the world, future drilling might not be necessary. No further communications to the public on why drilling continues to this day. (From Harry Kim's testimony to the Hawaii Environmental Council)
PGV calls their system "closed loop", but they often release hydrogen sulfide into the air when they have problems at the plant. As recently as November 7, 2011 PGV was affected by a lightning strike which tripped the plant offline and caused hydrogen sulfide gas to be vented. http://www.hawaii247.com/2011/11/08/pgv-plant-goes-offline-vents-hydrogen-sulfide-gas/
PGV uses 42,000 gallons of highly flammable, toxic pentane as part of what they call a “closed loop” process. They lose an average of 40-100 gallons of Pentane a day into the environment in this so called “closed loop” process. (From PGV testimony Hawaii County Council Meeting, July 2, 2012, also Environmental Administrative Decisions p. 274 http://books.google.com/books?id=8SO5oa-wxw0C&pg=PA274&lpg=PA274&dq=pentane+pgv&source=bl&ots=CmIfueYJ0W&sig=f9FgydV72vWNybh8nHHoisoGU3s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kI4DUP6oLObo2AXT2piYDA&ved=0CEoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=pentane%20pgv&f=false)
PGV is pumping 3,000 gallons per minute of toxic brine back into injection wells. If a pentane explosion, lava flow, earthquake or hurricane breaks their pipes, it would take minutes for the air, land and water to be irrevocably fouled.
The geothermal brine contains hydrogen sulfide, lead, nickel, chromium, and mercury. They call their system “closed loop”, but they also accumulate geothermal scale in steam/brine separators. This scale is removed during scheduled plant outages. (Goddard and Goddard, engineering and environmental studies, 1991. http://punapono.com/docs/Goddard91.pdf also, letter from Ormat, July 13, 2012)
DOH has cited PGV for uncontrolled steam releases. The Hawaii Department of Health reported on April 12, 2006 – that PGV was cited for exceeding its one-hour average of 25 parts per billion of H2S on August 25, 2005. During a cleanout process, station B recorded a one-hour average of 789 parts per billion. (DOH news release dated April 12, 2006, Harry Kim's testimony)
With the passage of ACT 097 this year, the counties have been stripped of their land use control over geothermal development. The county no longer has authority over the granting of the Geothermal Resource Permit which requires emergency plan development by PGV and to address noise levels and H2S emissions. (From Harry Kim's testimony to the Hawaii Environmental Council)
Also with Act 097, Geothermal subzones were eliminated. This means geothermal exploratory drilling and a power plant could be built almost anywhere in this state. This includes agricultural and rural districts. Note that 50% of the people on the Hawaiian Island reside in or about agricultural and rural zoned areas. (From Harry Kim's testimony to the Hawaii Environmental Council)
Helco is preparing an RFP for 50 MW of additional Geothermal power on the Big Island in 2012. They say in a January 6, 2012 press release, “HELCO will undertake technical studies . . . (which) include the need for more transmission lines if the geothermal power is all from the east side of the island.” Helco press release January 6, 2012http://www.heco.com/vcmcontent/StaticFiles/pdf/20120106-GeothermalRFP.pdf
Although Puna produces 20 percent of Big Island electricity requirements at PGV and another 10 percent at Shipman steam power plant in Kea’au, totaling 30 percent of Big Island power, Puna residents only use 6 percent of total power, in part because many Puna residents are off-grid, conserve and produce their own power. Any additional power will not be used in Puna. http://www.heco.com/vcmcontent/FileScan/PDFConvert/PowerFacts.pdf
Advocates say geothermal power will lower rates, but the Big Island has 20 percent geothermal power now and has higher rates than Maui and Oahu which have no geothermal power. (Helco website) http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.508576f78baa14340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=692e5e658e0fc010VgnVCM1000008119fea9RCRD&vgnextchannel=10629349798b4110VgnVCM1000005c011bacRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&vgnextrefresh=1&level=0&ct=article
During 2011, a total of $1.8 million in geothermal royalties was received from PGV by the state of Hawaii. They in turn distributed 30 percent to the County of Hawaii, totaling $568,000. Additionally, 20 percent, $378,000 was distributed to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. If you follow the money trail, the geothermal supporters all have two things in common: they live more than 10 miles from the plant and they are making money from geothermal plants.
In response to recent discussion about expansion of geothermal power, USGS Hawai’i Volcano Observatory highlighted the hazards involved in geothermal power plants in high risk zones, stating, “The effect of an eruption within a geothermal power development could be severe, and the site could be deeply buried by lava.” http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/view.php?id=130
Given these facts, we petition the Mayor to reconsider his vetoes which disregard the health and safety of the people. If that does not happen, we petition the Hawaii County Council to override the veto of these bills. We also petition for long overdue environmental monitoring, health studies and an evacuation plan that will give people immediate notice and egress in the event of another catastrophic accident at PGV.
We petition the Council to stop any further geothermal development that will put the people and Aina in harms way. We ask you to look into your hearts and make the right decisions, knowing that if you disregard our petition, you will be risking our lives for the sake of profits and political careers. We ask you to protect us, our keiki and kapuna, from having to suffer and possibly die for geothermal power and dollars.
Mahalo for your consideration.
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - Wao nahele kane - 07-27-2012
In the end, the geothermal plant will continue with expanded operations. It will be the following that prove to be the things that most effect the surrounding area of its operation. Areal power transmission lines.
While useless protest over fiction based emissions continue, plans will go forward. The protest efforts would be better spent guiding the power distribution requirements. Time spent on forcing the power distribution lines under ground would prove the best result in the aftermath of this whimpering about nothing tangible. BTW... water lines are regularly placed under ground... there's no legitimate reason why the plants power distribution lines can't be placed under ground also. Put the image in your mind of towering power lines throughout lower Puna. That's what the future reality will bring until people spend more time focusing on how that electricity is going to be distributed.
E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - oink - 07-27-2012
I like that one Wao nahele kane.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - opihikao - 07-27-2012
whalesong, thank you, but still don't see any factual information of permits being issued for more drilling, (except the current permit for 60MG). Also still looking for confirmation the drilling is going to take place where you stated, perhaps under the initial permit.
Does anyone know if the developer has to disclose the location of new drilling sites to the public?
We sure need facts, and we're not getting them. The continued discussion is good, but like pahoated stated, the current arguments are based on unproven/inaccurate, old information.
Frankly, seems like the threat of lawsuits ("We were awarded millions of dollars" per the plaintiffs paid off by ORMAT last time around) may come to fruition. Unfortunately, until the health issues are proven to come from the plant, another few million dollars from ORMAT is nothing to them to quiet the anti-geothermal group (again).
Some government agency needs to tell us what the facts are for lower Puna. Sure hope the Mayor starts sharing the plan he supports at some point.
Just my opinion.
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - hollinger54 - 07-29-2012
http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.508576f78baa14340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=4fb9e16a30b50310VgnVCM1000005c011bacRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
Hollinger
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - hollinger54 - 07-29-2012
http://www.heco.com/portal/site/heco/menuitem.508576f78baa14340b4c0610c510b1ca/?vgnextoid=96f632796ae53310VgnVCM10000005041aacRCRD&cpsextcurrchannel=1
Info and truth is not hard to find if you look, don't understand why official studies keep being discounted, shows the arrogance of the pro crowd they rather be willing too listen to those with monetary interest.
Hollinger
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - hollinger54 - 07-29-2012
and from what that article is saying above PVG releases HUGE amounts of Radon, that is clearly not safe for humans. see page 37, radon. any level above 4 picocuries per liter of air is worthy of abatement. According to the article below, 1 years exposure at 1 picocurie per liter of air shortens your life expectancy by 20 hours. The level of emissions from KS10 is 3050 picocuries per liter of air. clearly this is toxic and shortens people's life expectancy who are exposed. Just for estimation purposes, using statistics found here, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nuclear/radon.html
In about 24 hours hours of exposure to a reduced concentration from the well 1990's blowouts, residents could have received 12000 millirems or 12 rems... in 24 hours...
Radon
hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas, a radioactive byproduct of radium. It is par...
See More
Hollinger
RE: READ-Geothermal Facts and Lower Puna Permits - hollinger54 - 07-29-2012
the high radon content is especially dangerous in leakages and blowouts because, unlike a chest x ray where the radiation stops when the machine is turned off, these are radioactive particles that get embedded in your lung tissue and cause cancer thru primarily alpha radiation.
Hollinger