HELCO warns potential rolling power outages

[leilanidude]

https://punageothermalproject.com/#updates

Power plant
In service.
Wellfield
Continued drilling, current depth is 6,200’.

[MyManao]

Maybe this whole "car-centric sprawl" was a bad design decision..

Yeah, we've made all sorts of decisions, often for the best of reasons, that none-the-less have missed their mark. And now we're in a pickle I doubt we'll be able to recover from. Especially since, it seems, we don't have the resources we need for the decisions we're currently making..

From.. https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/08/23/...place-oil/

Is There Enough Metal to Replace Oil?

"The quantity of metal required to make just one generation of renewable tech units to replace fossil fuels is much larger than first thought. Current mining production of these metals is not even close to meeting demand. Current reported mineral reserves are also not enough in size.."

More at the link above..

[Durian Fiend]

Anyone been blacked out?
This wouldn’t go over well in a large retail store such as Home Depot or Walmart.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

From late May 2022, completed power plant can’t sell electricity to HELCO, pretty much due to one guy:

The state Public Utilities Commission on Monday stopped a wood-burning power plant planned for the Big Island.

In a 2-1 vote, the commission rejected a power purchase agreement between Honua Ola Bioenergy and the Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company, or Hawaiian Electric.

https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-...iʻi-island


This solar plant will provide 7+% of the Big Island’s electricity starting next spring - - - after delays, delays, delays:
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2022/08/...xt-spring/

[leilanidude]

he state Public Utilities Commission on Monday stopped a wood-burning power plant planned for the Big Island.
------------

It is one thing that the PUC has done correctly. That plant should never be allowed to operate and sell electricity due to the high costs which will go right to the electric bills of the consumer. IF they sold the electricity at the same or lower cost than PGV, I would be for it.

[ChunksterK]

About the wood fired power plant: In yet another example of third world corruption, cronyism, and incompetence, Hawaii has permitted and allowed construction of a $400 million project, only to reverse itself and pull the rug out from under the investors. The local front man for Honua Ola Bioenergy is Warren Lee, former Hawaii County Director of Public Works under Billy Kenoi. Lee's well connected background no doubt helped clear the way for the initial permitting and regulatory successes the project had, including a now reversed go-ahead from the PUC.

Now don't get me wrong. I agree that the plant is not consumer friendly pricewise, its green credentials are suspect, and a vetoed piece of legislation to force it through was a typical Hawaii attempt at strongarm favoritism. It never should have been approved in the first place. The problem here is the message to any entity contemplating making a major investment in Hawaii. Run, do not walk, to the nearest exit taking your money with you. These people cannot be trusted to follow the law, keep their promises, or maintain a fair process. I'm guessing the people at the TMT could tell a similar tale. At least they didn't spend their billion plus dollars.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Now don't get me wrong. I agree that the plant is not consumer friendly pricewise

The biggest problem (to me) is that there was some expectation that the plant would provide electricity to the grid for Hawaii County consumers.  This may have affected other potential projects that were being considered.  Could future proposed projects make money with Honua Ola generating power?  Could they get financing? Permits?  Other approvals?

Or are we now without power from an already built generating plant, and nothing else to fill the gap?


From Hawaiian Electric this afternoon:

We have lifted our call for Hawaii Island customers to conserve electricity. Customers may resume normal use of electricity tonight. We sincerely apologize for the disruption and thank everyone for helping to keep the lights on. Learn more:  hwnelec.co/3bZ350KzoHf

“With Hamakua Energy back online today, we expect to have sufficient power to continue to serve our Hawaii Island community,” said Kristen Okinaka, Hawaiian Electric spokesperson. 

[AaronM]

Asking PGV to run at maximum output...

Maybe it's time for PGV to sink some new wells.

Maybe the roads in Lanipuna Gardens not being restored encourage landowners to participate in the buyout program which would facilitate a PGV expansion.

Maybe I see a conspiracy where there is none.

Maybe I'm seeing with 20/20 vision.

YMMV

[Obie]

PGV is currently drilling a well. It's a long process.

They have a proposal in to enable a good increase in output but the usual people who fight them are waging court battles to prohibit expansion.

The proposal is to replace something like 12 generating units with 4 that will produce more power, have a smaller footprint and are more quiet !

[AaronM]

One way to cut down on court battles is to erase the closest neighborhood.