01-29-2015, 04:54 AM
Originally posted by Obie
Here is a link to a guidebook that explains the process in Hawaii:
http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uplo...debook.pdf
Some of it is now outdated but it shows there is plenty of oversight and PGV met all of the requirements.
Thanks for the link - was a new resource to me. However, given that this permitting guide book was published 30+ years after HGP-A was drilled, and 20+ years after PGV began, and that many of the requirements listed didn't exist here at the outset of geothermal development, and that much of this framework (geothermal subzones, county controlled GRP process, EIS requirements for exploratory drilling, etc) has been removed in just the last 5 years, this appears to be more evidence for what I said: Geothermal development elsewhere is done with clear governmental oversight and legal requirements, including emission controls and adequate noise suppression. Unfortunately, this is not how geothermal has been done here.
Agreed that PGV has met all the requirements to obtain the necessary permits. However, they have continuously not managed to abide by the permits resulting in dozens of citations by the EPA and DOH from at least 1991 to 2015:
http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bi...nology.pdf Page 12, and more
http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bi...ndence.pdf (11.5 meg) Pages 9, 12
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/0...cited-epa/
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2015/0...incidents/
Once upon a time (pre-1981), drilling was only allowed on weekdays. Before 1996, the noise limit used to be 45dB , which is ~300x less intense or ~6x less noisy than today's 70dB limit. Now, County Council can't determine if a nighttime drilling ban they passed actually applies or not. It will be interesting to see how PGV proceeds with their unclear permit requirements. Note that they've had to do stop drilling at night before due to noise complaints.
For the record, I do believe that geothermal can be a better alternative to electricity generation by fossil fuels. However, it actually has to be done wisely, including proper site selection, working with the surrounding community, sufficient regulatory oversight, and a developer willing and able to meet these requirements and still deliver actual cost savings on electricity. None of these have been the case thus far for local geothermal development.
Here is a link to a guidebook that explains the process in Hawaii:
http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uplo...debook.pdf
Some of it is now outdated but it shows there is plenty of oversight and PGV met all of the requirements.
Thanks for the link - was a new resource to me. However, given that this permitting guide book was published 30+ years after HGP-A was drilled, and 20+ years after PGV began, and that many of the requirements listed didn't exist here at the outset of geothermal development, and that much of this framework (geothermal subzones, county controlled GRP process, EIS requirements for exploratory drilling, etc) has been removed in just the last 5 years, this appears to be more evidence for what I said: Geothermal development elsewhere is done with clear governmental oversight and legal requirements, including emission controls and adequate noise suppression. Unfortunately, this is not how geothermal has been done here.
Agreed that PGV has met all the requirements to obtain the necessary permits. However, they have continuously not managed to abide by the permits resulting in dozens of citations by the EPA and DOH from at least 1991 to 2015:
http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bi...nology.pdf Page 12, and more
http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bi...ndence.pdf (11.5 meg) Pages 9, 12
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/0...cited-epa/
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2015/0...incidents/
Once upon a time (pre-1981), drilling was only allowed on weekdays. Before 1996, the noise limit used to be 45dB , which is ~300x less intense or ~6x less noisy than today's 70dB limit. Now, County Council can't determine if a nighttime drilling ban they passed actually applies or not. It will be interesting to see how PGV proceeds with their unclear permit requirements. Note that they've had to do stop drilling at night before due to noise complaints.
For the record, I do believe that geothermal can be a better alternative to electricity generation by fossil fuels. However, it actually has to be done wisely, including proper site selection, working with the surrounding community, sufficient regulatory oversight, and a developer willing and able to meet these requirements and still deliver actual cost savings on electricity. None of these have been the case thus far for local geothermal development.