Ormat picked for new eastside geothermal plant

[Mimosa]

There is a no mans land between HA,Anialoa,Tiki Gardens , Orchidland that the owner in japan has for decades been wanting to build a privately run golf course and resort on.Maybe secretly he has gotten the OKs and pay outs to allow Geothermal on that pristine parcel ???

[lavalava]

More likely scenario is that they expand their operations at the current location.

[pahoated]

The article said there was a new plant, although from Ormat's view, leasing another site near PGV is all win for them. PGV is just leasing a 25 acre parcel (along with an easement they have named Geo-Thermal Road). The Kapoho investment group they currently lease from has another really large parcel to the east, much further away from established residences. Or maybe they have found a good hotspot next door to Petricci up the road, and will put the plant into the big ag lot that has Pawai crater.

"Mahalo nui Pele, 'ae noho ia moku 'aina" - kakahiaka oli

[ironyak]

Originally posted by Obie
Do you think the reason they want to build on the east side could be because they have found a proven resource here?
Don't forget that Hawaii County has an ordinance that requires a full blown impact statement for exploratory drilling. Previously an EA was all that was required for a test well.
Ormat doesn't have to follow the night time drilling ban because of their existing legal permits but they would have to follow new rules for exploratory wells.

Passed in 2012, Act 97 removed the county geothermal permitting process and provides a possible exemption from EIS/EA requirments for exploratory drilling. What county ordinance changes this?

Ormat's nighttime drilling rights may not be in the clear - still no drilling at PGV yet? Maybe Mike K or Ilagan will have an update soon.

New exploratory and development drilling should be covered by the nighttime ban, no doubt increasing the cost of finding & developing a geothermal resource, but only if it is within a mile of a residence.

While a new company exploring a new area may have helped redefine how geothermal development is done here, it looks like more of the same instead. IF this project proceeds, hopefully some of the lessons from the last ~40 years are applied in choosing a site. However, here is discussion of some possible sites discussed by other bidders for this RFP.

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/sect...plant.html