County offer?

[geochem]

Soooo Mr. Gyp, according to your original post, you had until June 30 to accept or reject the county's offer. The world awaits, with bated breath, your decision...

[kalakoa]

The world awaits, with bated breath

Don't be silly -- you can't bate the master!

[Wao nahele wahine]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

The world awaits, with bated breath

Don't be silly -- you can't bate the master!

---

You could bait him, though.

Wahine

[Guest]

We do appreciate our communities continued aloha spirit during this counties geothermal relocation process. We have been waiting patiently to hear back from the county planning dept, now that we have opted to begin negotiations with them. We are ready to relocate and hope this relocation process can move along quickly. With school starting for the kids in the next month or two depending on where we relocate, it would be helpful to know sooner than later.

If by chance this county relocation process can't help our family move, we are still very motivated to sell if anyone else happens to be looking for a well maintained home and acre in Puna. Mahalo

[geochem]

Since Mr. Gyp is treating us to another of his random-rants on geothermal energy's alleged role in the deaths of Hawaii's ohia trees, I thought I would again ask the question, if Leilani is such a toxic geothermal minefield, are you going to accept the (alleged) county offer to relocate or not?

[HiloPuna]

Please, Gyp, say it's so ! Spare yourself and family your continued self-loathing, for why else would you stay? Life, and Time, is too precious to compromise your (cough,cough) Health. Vote with your feet, while you're still ambulatory!

Just Please.....Move On*



*irony alert

[pahoated]

The Energy Policy Act of 2016 has been passed. In it, the Congress is directing the President and Department of Energy to increase geothermal energy development as quickly as possible.

It is now law to develop geothermal energy. It will take awhile to come down the chain but it looks like a major issue for the next Hawaii legislature. The Act directs at least 10 Gigawatts be developed on public land. The various clauses of the act invalidate the entire chapter on geothermal in the Hawaii county code. There should be an action to have that section deleted.

Summary of the geothermal development act:

* direct the Secretary of Interior to increase geothermal energy on public lands and directs the USGS to identify sites capable of generating 50,000-MW of geothermal power;

* direct federal agencies to identify priority areas for geothermal development and to facilitate that development;

* allow federal oil and gas lease holders to utilize coproduced geothermal fluids to generate power -- today 25 billion barrels of hot water are produced annually from oil and gas wells within the United States much of which cannot be used due to leasing technicalities;

* facilitate new geothermal discoveries by allowing the limited non-competitive leasing of adjacent lands to support development where a new discovery has been made;

* expedite geothermal exploration for new test projects by providing a limited categorical exclusion; and,

* direct the BLM to prepare a new, supplemental Programmatic EIS for geothermal energy

There is a link to the complete Energy Policy 2016 bill here. It is a 550 page download.
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/sum...policy-act

*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*

[pahoated]

It's been worked on since then, and now has the title Energy Policy Modernization Act. The main body about geothermal hasn't changed. It has passed the Senate and similar House version, so it will be law when the President signs it.

http://www.geo-energy.org/pressReleases/...0Bill.aspx

The main body on Geothermal outlines all the various ordinances and regulations now existing at the state and county level. Federal law will supersede state and county ordinances and regulations.

It doesn't mean much change around here. PGV is permitted to 60MW at the old feed-in rate when oil electric rate was 42 cents/kilowatt-hour. Oil electric is down to 20 cents/kw-hr. PGV was getting 25 cents/kw-hr on their 30MW. The main point is Hawaii island east side has very little demand for electric power. It is in high demand on Kona side for air conditioning. There isn't much incentive for expanding geothermal on Hawaii island for Hawaii island. The expansion was to feed Maui and Oahu growing needs for more and more electric power. Trouble for HECO is HELCO has no motivation to go through the effort to develop more power just for the sake of Maui and Oahu. HELCO has already terminated their high cost power plant burdens with PGV canceling the contract they won, and Pepeekeo being terminated for cause on their contract. HELCO rides out the 50% reduction of oil cost, pad the difference for awhile without paying out.

*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*

[kalakoa]

It is in high demand on Kona side for air conditioning.

If only there were some way that we could or should "transmit" or "transport" the power over to Kona. JMO.

[Guest]

Mahalo for the great discussion Dakine and Ted. Regardless of who is right or wrong about this Geothermal discussion or the State of Hawaii's geothermal intentions. Some of us still end up learning more here on this PWEB forum about these things than at those PGV meetings that our DOH always skips like it's not important enough. jmo

Dakine, Thanks for your concern. The offer from the "Mayor's" county although "non-negotiable" still stands and now we are weighing our options.