DHHL meetings on geothermal energy exploration

[Durian Fiend]

Excellent points Tom.  A blink of an eye would be impossible, one should think.  Imagine if Hawaii had only kept continuity with Gov. Linda Lingle's renewable energy vision, way back when you and I were in our 30s...

I believe she envisioned hydrogen fuel as the future for Hawaii, a technology that hasn't developed in a timely manner.  Also the Trump administration has cancelled funding for the hydrogen hubs program.

[MyManao]

I don't see how it could affect the JERA proposal.

Apples and oranges.

Unless JERA is dependent on DHHL residence as end users, which makes little sense when we consider how small a footprint DHHL has on Oahu, and that they specifically identify electrifying their own lands as their intent, one has very little to do with the other.

But then, if DHHL were to encourage other communities to buy electricity from them, and the PUC require HECO to allow for it's transmission across the grid, well that would be an entirely different can of worms, and one that could upset the fossils for sure.

I am curious why Green is sucking up to LNG. It makes no sense to me other than as a way to appease the madman back in DC. And, interestingly, he doesn't attack Hawaii all that much. He obviously hates the westcoast libs, which we are, essentially, a part of, but mums da word hereabouts. Who knows, maybe Green is making back door deals to shield us from the brunt of his madness. And, lord knows, the orangutang loves them fossils.

Although it doesn't go into any back door shenanigans, or the underlying motives behind them, I found CB's coverage of the issue to be enlightening..

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/lng-ag...r-mistake/

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

From the days of Gov Lingle. According to the article, one of the objections to wind power was some possibility residents might not be able to hunt deer while tower construction took place? Wouldn’t want workers to be accidentally shot at I suppose. Maybe part of the proposal should have included free electricity for Lanai residents?

We'll hear more from Lanai residents who say creating a sustainable island is great, but have one simple question, "what's in it for us?"

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/9382...s-talking/

[ironyak]

The Big Island locations of the meetings, along with that map of the geothermal resource and DHHL lands overlap, is interesting (note that none of the meetings are in Puna - locals finally scare them off? No good overlap of geothermal and DHHL lands in the area? Or PGV's continual inability to even operate at full capacity, along with the 2018 flow, make them wary of large scale & long term feasibility?)

Wednesday, May 27, 6 p.m., Keaukaha Elementary School, Humu’ula, Upper Pi’ihonua, Pu’ukahu, Kawaihae, Hawai’i island
Friday, May 29, 6 p.m., Na’alehu Community Center, Kama’oa, Pu’u’eo, South Point, Hawai’i island

That 2017 study with the fancy maps notes the areas of possible development and don't show Kohala being as rich a resource as that DHHL slide. Hopefully once the DHHL meetings start on May 18th the slides will be released to figure out where that super-rich geothermal resource map came from, or if it's just "enhanced shading".

[Punatang]

Excellent points Tom.  A blink of an eye would be impossible, one should think.  Imagine if Hawaii had only kept continuity with Gov. Linda Lingle's renewable energy vision, way back when you and I were in our 30s...

I believe she envisioned hydrogen fuel as the future for Hawaii, a technology that hasn't developed in a timely manner.  Also the Trump administration has cancelled funding for the hydrogen hubs program.

Linda Lingle was a proponent of geothermal for a variety of uses including hopes that geothermal could be used to generate hydrogen fuel which would be one part of an all-of-the-above renewable strategy.  She was also a proponent of wind, solar, biofuels, and more.  Linda Lingle was a true warrior, pioneer, and heroine in the battle to get Hawaii off of imported fossil fuel. If we only could have stayed the course. Sad.

https://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/upl.../erc06.pdf


https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/07/why-it...an-energy/

----------------------------
Wouldn't a link and an intro from an article be more in keeping with the customary way of doing things here on PW all these years? And, besides, isn't the reproduction of a copyrighted article in full against the law? -MyManao

MyManao has a point, a couple of points.
Edited for a brief summary with link.  Punatang, feel free to post other partial article quote that you would like included.
----------------------------

Why It Took A Republican Governor To Get Blue Hawaii On The Path To Clean Energy
When Gov. Linda Lingle pushed for sweeping renewable energy legislation, Hawaiian Electric pushed back. But Lingle eventually won.
By Eric Pape / July 28, 2016

The Birth Of A Clean Energy Plan
Alm’s interest was in getting the fight out of the legislative arena and into a less adversarial situation.
There were other good reasons to try something new. In January 2008, the federal Energy Department had signed an agreement with Lingle that would ultimately become the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. Hawaii would produce 70 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2030, including 40 percent from renewable sources and 30 percent from conservation efforts.
By March, state and federal officials were working with representatives from nonprofits, trade associations, businesses and the university to refine the vision of the initiative before taking it to public hearings.
Moreover, the U.S. Energy Department was offering to put staff, national laboratory expertise and even grant funds at the state’s disposal. Lingle jumped at that. Hawaiian Electric also saw the potential benefits.
In June 2008, the board agreed it was time to negotiate with the state.

ingle, as the last remaining points were being hashed out.

The End Of A Century-Old Mindset
On Oct. 20, 2008, Alm waited in the governor’s office along with others who would sign the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative agreement in an official state ceremony. Among those present that day were Bill Parks of the U.S. Energy Department and Maurice Kaya of the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture would sign as witnesses.
Then, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye walked in.
Inouye was one of the most influential Democrats in the country and certainly Hawaii’s most famous political figure. Alm, who had worked as an aide to the senator, was as surprised as anyone to see him.
“My people told me not to do this,” Alm recalls Inouye telling him. They were concerned that his presence would suggest a closeness with the Republican Lingle that wouldn’t look good just two weeks before the 2008 presidential election in which Democrat Barack Obama was in a tight race against Republican John McCain.
But Inouye believed the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative was more significant than electoral politics or partisan sniping, according to Alm.
Inouye believed Hawaii’s dependence on foreign oil supplies was an economic, financial and military security risk not only for the islands but for the whole country.
And, perhaps most importantly to the power company given some of the negotiations, there was a recognition that a “financially sound” electric utility was a vital component for the transition toward renewable energy.
But the utility had agreed to change a way of doing business that had lasted more than 100 years.
“People were in shock,” says Duke Aiona, then Lingle’s lieutenant governor.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Good article Punatang.  But as it points out it’s a constant battle with … everyone.  The electric utility, hunters on Lanai, geothermal protesters.  No matter the good intentions, Republican or Democratic, there’s road blocks all along the way.

When Lingle was mayor on Maui she tried to change the garbage collection system.  Employees worked under Uku Pau, you finish work you quit for the day with full pay.  Garbage trucks drove like maniacs across the island, they didn’t pick up all the trash, sometimes drove right past your house requiring the department to send out a separate truck.  But the uku pau guys could finish in 2 or 3 hours and get paid for 8.  She couldn’t overcome the county worker uprising against her proposal so we continued to have garbage service.  Which we paid for separately from taxes.

[MyManao]

https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/07/why-it...an-energy/...

Wouldn't a link and an introductory quote from an article be more in keeping with the customary way of doing things here on PW all these years? And, besides, isn't the reproduction of a copyrighted article in full against the law?

Seriously, 'Tang, when an issue excites you, great, but a full on reproduction of a Civil Beat article, including their logo and all that other stuff, is (I think) criminal. And, you, of all people, the champion of fair and balanced.. would be the first to stand up against such blatant disregard of other's rights. Or so I thought. Am I wrong?

But then, maybe I am, wrong. Maybe the new way of doing things is he who posts the most, the longest, is the one in the right. The one whose ideas win the day. After all, I am just an old man, set in my old ways. So, really, what would I know? Maybe, for example, Civil Beat would appreciate their wares being passed on.. no need anyone go to their site. They don't do all that for themselves, it's a free for all anymore. Just take it away..

[HiloJulie]

Why yes, the good ole days of Governor Lingle. 

First, with respect to the garbage issue when Lingle was Maui's Mayor, let's be clear - while I am NOT condoning the Union Agreement that was in place and spelled out the terms the workers had with respect to the Uku Pau compensation system, the issue was the Lingle just ran roughshod over and violated the specific Union Agreement she was, by law, required to uphold.

And then, while Lingle did usher Hawaii into the renewable energy forefront, lets also remember she brought us the "tremendously successful" Hawaii Superferry, again by just running roughshod over rules, regulations and laws, as well as the infamous drastic cuts to the education of Hawaii's keiki - including "Furlough Fridays" and having protesters arrested in her office.

A consummate republican in my book!

[Durian Fiend]

Excellent points Tom.  A blink of an eye would be impossible, one should think.  Imagine if Hawaii had only kept continuity with Gov. Linda Lingle's renewable energy vision, way back when you and I were in our 30s...

I believe she envisioned hydrogen fuel as the future for Hawaii, a technology that hasn't developed in a timely manner.  Also the Trump administration has cancelled funding for the hydrogen hubs program.

Linda Lingle was a proponent of geothermal for a variety of uses including hopes that geothermal could be used to generate hydrogen fuel which would be one part of an all-of-the-above renewable strategy.  She was also a proponent of wind, solar, biofuels, and more.  Linda Lingle was a true warrior, pioneer, and heroine in the battle to get Hawaii off of imported fossil fuel. If we only could have stayed the course. Sad.

What exactly does "staying the course" mean to you?   Ige's goals were even more ambitious than Lingle's.  Needless to say (?),  every governor since Lingle has been a strong proponent of developing renewable energy.  Easier said than done, right?   If you look at the states most successful in this transition, most of them have done it through hydro and wind.  Neither of these is really practical in Hawaii.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Lingle just ran roughshod over and violated the specific Union Agreement she was, by law, required to uphold.

That may be true, I don’t remember the details, I just wanted my garbage picked up.
But speaking of roughshod, would the garbage truck drivers speeding at 25 over the limit (easily, every time they drove by in front of my house) or failing to do their job by repeatedly not picking up the garbage - - they basically had one job to do so should have figured out how to do it right.  When they were hired were they expected to follow laws and complete their duties?  Clearly Lingle’s duties did not include firing bad employees.