12-31-2014, 01:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ironyak
Regardless of the pros/cons for geothermal energy itself, the current location is either:
a very poor choice from a consideration for residents' comfort or PR obligations given all the complaints in regards to noise, emissions, special treatment, etc
a very astute choice from a consideration for resident's discomfort or minimizing tax mine obligations given all the complaints in regards to noise, emissions, special treatment, etc
Was there really no where else on the rift that was suitable? What other sites were considered?
In fact, the selected location was a very good choice for geothermal but a very bad choice for 1 acre ag/residential subdivision (sitting astride the rift zone). When geothermal was initiated in that location, Leilani Estates was less than 10% occupied with no real expectation that it would become a bedroom community - a failed subdivision, with a single pay phone on a pole halfway up Leilani Avenue. Don't recall now whether they have private lines to the few developed lots or not in 1976.
Was there anywhere else considered - you bet. Kahaulea was targeted for development but, as another poster has noted, it was too close to Volcano Village and the National Park and they pushed to have it move further down the rift zone to what was the Puna Forest Reserve which they claimed was much less pristine than the Kahaulea land. A land exchange was effected between the owner of Kahaulea land and the State and an effort was made to develop there - well away from any residential area, but the former Puna Forest Reserve lands were then claimed to be too pristine to develop by the obstructionists and all the activists subjected the project to continuous harassment until, after PGV's venting episode and the suspension of all geothermal drilling by the State, the company pulled out.
But that's the problem: there's land in areas where development has occurred, and areas that are located far from any development - one is deemed too close to residences and the other is considered too pristine for development. Just no pleasin' some people....