PGV funds may become available for improvements

[Lokahi]

appears some folks read the faq's and are putting some of that reading and formatting to nice use, mahalo



Edited by - lokahi on 12/12/2007 18:57:36

[Katey]

maybe some of the money can be used to set up Rob's business incubator idea for the area affected. I have some experience with new biz incubation, and would be happy to help draft a proposal for that. I think its a great idea to give the kids, entrepreneurs and commodity producers (aka farmers) in Puna a place where they can get co-oped services to help fund, market or develop their cottage industries.

kate

[Bob Orts]

Not to worry Rob.
It’s a good thing there’s a 4 hour time difference since I can make calls after work and get answers. It appears that this is a common issue because the two funds have two different purposes. When it was said that providing water heaters was not a good idea, that’s because the subject was the Royalty Fund which is used for relocation. Had it been mentioned that the reason for not thinking it was a good idea was because the Asset Fund was designed for that purpose, it would have clarified the issue.

Anyway, when PGV agreed to these funds, without any closed end agreement, it wasn’t a big “business” venture. It was a win-win at the time. But if the funds are being diverted from its original intention to other needs, wouldn’t a more profit oriented business look at it as some form of covert taxing structure? Let’s say a company wanted to open some form of operations where immediate community and residents would be impacted. A fund is set up to mitigate those issues. Once those issues are mitigated and no longer apply, why still contribute to a fund with no purpose? Even if there are strong community needs, if not based on the operation, should the business have to subsidize unrelated community needs beyond normal taxation? Just a thought.

[Greg]

The issue of relocation just may come up again. There are capped wells on the geothermal property that may not stay capped forever. When they cap a well it's basically concrete poured into a steel sleeve. The highly corrosive gas in the well eats away at the steel sleeve and could eventually escape into the atmosphere.

I was against geothermal power originally. It is a hotter resource here than at other locations (New Zealand-Iceland) and because of the proximity to a residential area (leilani Estates). There was a blowout a dozen or so years ago and from my house four miles away it sounded like a jet taking off continously for hours.

They seem to have worked out the bugs, and fuel prices have skyrocketed since then. So now I'm OK with it as long as the area is monitored, and there's still money in a "contingency" fund.

[james weatherford]

gtill,

Please, tell it like it is: the PGV manager, in public at a Council Committee meeting, was unable to answer questions about emissions.
No lies about this, just reporting what actually happened.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Guest]

Let's not forget about This
Health Consultation that was done nearly 10 years ago.

No information was available for ambient air levels of other gases (e.g., sulfur dioxide, ammonia) that are known to be present in volcanic emissions. Therefore, the potential health impact of these other gases, if they are present, can not be assessed.

You can also query the info here

-----------------
Coming home soon!

[gtill]

To all, there is leftover money from funds set aside for relocation that were not used because there ceased to be a problem. The emissions have stopped. The testing equipment they purchased proved to be unnecessary. And now some want to use the set aside funds for a political slush fund.

That facility probably powers most of Puna, but we get no price benefit because HELCO sets the fees at the cost of oil. Ormat wants to expand, and potentially reduce the oil use. HELCO insists on investing in solar and wind which will take forever to pay off, and should be an individual effort with tax credits. How many can afford the 35K reverse meter setup?

Everyone needs an electric bill break. And the only one capable of providing same is Ormat! Presently at 20% of isle needs at 30mw, 100% would be 150mw. The plant is rated at over 200mw.

In Nevada 14 geothermal wells spread across the state provide 275mw. We're sitting on a gold mine with one. There is a massive geothermal push in the western states!

The 10 year old emission standards
were probably set after x years of full spectrum analysis, arriving at the limited flagged emissions. As it probably involved UH, I admit they sould be suspect.

So now with the funds in limbo, why not use some to establish a true full spectrum testing program contracted and administered by an outside disinterested Certified Testing co. Say for 1 year. Let's put to rest any "theories" of hazardous fumes once and for all!
Seems to be a good use for the alloted funds, not to a political slush fund!

Oil is settling near 100$ a barrel, your electric bills will keep on going up, only improvments being considered are relating to supply. And those are intermittant. The oil still flows, and we pay!
WHY?

[gtill]

I received some information from a musician friend, his guitarist just came back from his property in leilani, his baby daughter had been getting asthma attacks over ther, which cleared up on oahu. I haden't heard of any further problems or am i missing somthing. Until that community mabe a mile around, a vote should be taken as to whether their safety is secure.
The only way this could be reasonably assured is to establish a comprehensive private non interested air testing contract. From outside, with no interest in outcome!
From here i'll shut up! But make sure everyone in the area is satisfied, and they won't need them.

[Rob Tucker]

Depending on which way the wind is blowing Vog can certainly affect Leilani and the whole area too. If air monitoring was taking place you would want to understand the source of any gases. I have experienced it here in Pahoa Village.

[gtill]

Right, when she was starting in early 80s, it was smoggy in Alae point where I was working during a kona period. I think i heard people up hamakua side grumbling on this forum!

I think the testing would be effective as an indicator of conditions, and your pele reference could be confirmed with 24/7 test results from the project, and include 1 mile perimeter results remotely gathered.

This would cost a penny, but what better use for funds to help the people it was intended for. Not a political slush fund! If the hawaiian community would give their blessings mabe somthing good for everyone could come out of it.

The potential would be massive and hopefully stop the exodus of local folk from the region!