PGV plans new well

[norris]

Are there any such lawyers already known? I know it was a long time ago, but who helped with legal stuff during the mass protest above Pahoa at the well in Wao Kele?

[Rattlestaff]

The energy resources here are limited,the pollution this state pukes out is amazing. PGV will leave a wasteland in its wake. such a beautiful place until one digs deeper. Sad.

[leilanidude]

PGV will leave a wasteland in its wake.

Exactly what would this "wasteland" be comprised of? A couple of buildings and some capped wells?

[Rattlestaff]

The impacts of geothermal are relatively small when compared to coal and others for sure! I'm assuming this is a closed loop system and most if not all hazardous material is injected back into the ground.
Arsenic,lead,mercury.Ground Water and soil contamination are also risks. I'm sure they are an upstanding company following all rules laid out before them, right? So no worries. Gasses are the biggest issue with geothermal always have been. I wouldn't live next door. Or instability in the ground itself which can cause dramatic sinking or uplift. But the ground their is solid and stable?
In the end it is better then the alternative. I guess

[Rene Siracusa]

I just want to raise a point that was briefly touched on earlier in this thread, but not pursued. It referred to PGV workers not being affected by the emissions. Please remember that they have access to portable breathing apparatus during upset events, unlike the neighbors. Surely that accounts for the fact that they are not being poisoned. I don't begrudge them that protection, but we should not use the fact that they have it as a cover argument, saying "if the workers aren't getting sick then the rest of you are hypochondriacs" or similar sentiments that don't hold up to logical scrutiny.

[leilanidude]

Rene - There are some of the anti-geo crowd who claim that they are being sickened by geo on a daily basis. If that were so, then why are the workers, who do not routinely wear the respirators, not getting sick?

[lavalava]

Back to the NOISE folks. Why do we have local laws if they are not being enforced?

[kalakoa]

remember that they have access to portable breathing apparatus

Fine: PGV can simply issue the same safety equipment to Leilani residents. Level playing field and all that.

Why do we have local laws if they are not being enforced?

But they are enforced -- at such time and place as is convenient for County -- just because the law doesn't benefit you personally doesn't mean that it's invalid or unenforceable, right?

[Guest]

Leilani dude,it sounds like your assuming you know that the workers are employed there long term. Your assuming that their ailments would show up immediately upon exposure. Everyone has different tolerance levels. I think that the elderly and little children would not be able to handle long term exposure as well as a man during his prime years. I (gypsy's wife) grew up less than a mile from the geo in the eighties. I remember the school bus stopping directly across the street from this same geo plant everyday. This white steam would pour through the windows as we held our breath, because it was such a repulsive rotten egg smell. It made my eyes water and get sinus allergies. When the bus would go we would be so happy to take a deep breath. I suffered a great deal through high school with allergies and skin problems and still do to this day. I was an adult when I realized what had attributed to my health problems.

[leilanidude]

Actually, I know a couple of the workers. One has since retired (not that he was at the plant that long, he was around 50 when he started).
They simply don't have a bunch of random new workers all the time. Plus, the plant that Ormat operates is nothing like the one you knew as a child. So comparing that older plant which doesn't even exist with the newer technology closed loop system is pointless.