Geothermal relocation plan on hold due to lava

[ironyak]

http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/loc...ram-hiatus
Excerpt - More at link

A program that allows neighbors of Puna Geothermal Venture to sell their homes to Hawaii County is on hold, a move that leaves 30 applications in limbo.

The Planning Department, which administers the geothermal relocation program, placed a moratorium on new purchases and auctions of purchased properties in response to uncertainties surrounding the June 27 lava flow, said Joaquin Gamiao, planning administrative officer.

The decision was made this month following the purchase of five homes through the program late last year. Those purchases were the first made since the program was flooded with applications in 2012 following renewed controversy regarding geothermal power.

One more purchase is being processed and will be completed. Letters notifying the remaining applicants could be sent late this week, he said.

While the power plant and its neighbors aren’t directly impacted by lava, the concern is that the flow could hamper access to the area and result in the 38-megawatt plant shutting down if it loses its transmission lines, Gamiao said.

The county’s share of geothermal royalties is the only funding source for the program. Those payments would cease if the plant shuts down.

“There’s so many things that can impact the whole program,” Gamiao said. “We’re going to take the time to look and make an intelligent guess about what’s going to happen and how to proceed.”

As of Jan. 8, the Geothermal Royalty Fund, which also can be used for capital projects and services for lower Puna, had $2.7 million. Another $1 million is kept in reserve.
...

[Obie]

The moratorium should last until the 3 year health study is complete.

I don't see how this can't be considered a complete abuse of the system.Getting compensated by the relocation program and also buying properties at auction for a fraction of the real cost should not be allowed :

David Rogers, who sold his Hinalo Street home to the county last month, said he is staying in the same neighborhood in another house he owns, at least temporarily.

His current residence on Lauone Street in Lanipuna Gardens was previously a relocation property he purchased from the county through an auction in 2000.

Gamiao said there are no rules requiring someone to move away from PGV after selling their home to the county or preventing them from participating in the relocation program more than once, whether as a seller or buyer.

Rogers, 62, said he didn’t experience any problems until he moved to the Hinalo Street home, which is about a block closer to PGV.

It was there, Rogers said, that he began having sore throats often and breathing problems, issues he thinks are caused by the geothermal plant and being at ground level where hydrogen sulfide, if released from the plant, would concentrate.

“I lived there for several years and never had any problem,” he said of the Lauone Street home, which is raised off the ground. “When I went up to the corner is when I started to experience breathing troubles.”

Rogers, who sold the Hinalo Street house for $196,560 (including escrow fees), said he doesn’t think he is doing anything wrong by using the program again, this time as a seller.

“I didn’t have a problem (before),” he said. “I didn’t seem to notice the health things when down at the other end.”

Rogers bought the Lauone Street home from the county for $23,500. The county bought it from the previous owner through the relocation program for $72,421.

- See more at: http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/loc...Sv8rs.dpuf

[Guest]

This move to stall the relocation of a couple dozen families only benefits the county in my opinion. Geothermal probably would like to see a few close residents move, especially anti-geothermal neighbors. Geothermal probably does not need the extra testimony or health issues reaching the supposable new health study reports. I know the folks who are on the list are wanting to move sooner than later, for multiple reasons.

So why would the county put a hold on the relocation process? Personally I feel that its to allow the housing market to adjust much lower first so they don't buy to high, jmo though. Would the county when buying relocation homes recognize the owners tax essessed value when they got on the list? Or would they want to recognize the new value in a few years after un-stalling the relocation process? 130% of 200,000 homes compared to 130% of 70,000 homes is a big difference.

The folks on this relocation list don't want to have geothermal as their good neighbor for what ever the reasons may be any longer. They have already been subjected to numerous worries regarding geothermal plant operations, that has affected their qualities of life emotionally and sometimes physically. Most on the list have waited for years already and Now they must wait even longer due to what the county says are lava related impacts that they are not sure of yet. Well the folks on the relocation list have their own worries which once AGAIN seem to be ignored.
The reasons the county wants to stall this relocation process over the lava flow is some of the main concerns the good folks on the list are weary of. Why should our county allow anymore geothermal new drilling in an area so active at the moment with so many unpredictable and unforeseen events sure to come? A Three month long new drilling of a deep well in, under, and around our neighborhood has its own dangers, maybe even more now with this lava flow and more angry close residents.

[pahoated]

quote:

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Originally posted by Obie

The moratorium should last until the 3 year health study is complete.

I don't see how this can't be considered a complete abuse of the system.Getting compensated by the relocation program and also buying properties at auction for a fraction of the real cost should not be allowed :

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That is just one of the scams Puna Porno Alliance and Pele Diddly Fund have going. For whatever reason, they have the whole county brow beaten into submission. There apparently are not enough rational citizens to challenge the abuse of public funds for the gain of a small recurring group. Petricci had his first place bought out with the early settlements, then moved up the street to be even closer to PGV. Now he is demanding to be bought out at 130% assessment. Funny how that works. This whole goings on could be challenged in court but nobody really wants to deal with it, just let it go, part of Puna life.

"Mahalo nui Pele, 'ae noho ia moku 'aina" - kakahiaka oli

[leilanidude]

If some of these people have wanted to move so badly, why have they simply not put their house up for sale?

By waiting to do so, at this point they have a much lower value to the property than what they would have had a year ago due to the lava flow.

[Obie]

My points are that there has never been any proof that there are detrimental health effects caused by PGV. It's a geothermally active area in lava zone 1.The same geothermal steam that PGV uses leaks out of the ground naturally in that area!!

As it is now, people can have the County buy their house for 130% of value, then buy back their same house back for penny's on the dollar.

[Guest]

Obie you have brought up a very good point, thank you. Yes the current way the county is buying and selling the relocation homes is wrong. When the fund was first set up to help geothermal affected residents relocate the county was to leave the houses bought by this fund empty and was not to RE SELL them.
Well the rules have been changed now many times in favor of county, not its people needing relocated. Millions has been diverted for the counties best interests also (transfer station) being only one diversion. Another problem with why folks are getting on the relocation list now rather than say 10 or 20 years ago is because geothermal has continued to grow and take even more of this resource ( steam) over the years, while electric rates rise and drilling and operating dangers still persists. Experimental geo in Puna has turned into a money maker for many and now may be needed more than ever, so don't families and or close residential home owners have at least a right to change their minds on where they want to live?


My home happens to be on this relocation list and has been for a couple years now. My wife and I bought here in leilani wanting to live close to our parents and where we grew up as keiki. Well now our parents our gone moved or passed, and We are now raising 5 kids of our own. These reasons and the fact that Geothermal has continued to grow has influenced the changing of our mind on where we want to live and raise keiki. We ourselves have tried selling a couple of times now in the past few years, yet with lava flows and geothermal so close, its been difficult to say the least. Anyone here want to buy a nice home and acre next to one of the worlds growing geothermals?

[lavalava]

Maybe Gypsy - email me your latest MLS# please.

[Guest]

This program is a total waste of taxpayer money and a giveaway to scam artists and people with imaginary neurotic illnesses. You want to see acidic air, go to Ocean View. Everything there rusts like crazy, much more than here in Puna. I don't see any buyouts being offered there. This is just politics to enrich a few people. The program should not be delayed. It should be cancelled with extreme prejudice.

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You can't fix Samsara.

[Punatic007]

quote:

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Originally posted by imagtek

This program is a total waste of taxpayer money and a giveaway to scam artists and people with imaginary neurotic illnesses. You want to see acidic air, go to Ocean View. Everything there rusts like crazy, much more than here in Puna. I don't see any buyouts being offered there. This is just politics to enrich a few people. The program should not be delayed. It should be cancelled with extreme prejudice.

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You can't fix Samsara.

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Wow, those are some harsh words Imagtek. Why on earth would you feel so arrogant as to insult all the folk living next to a heavy industrial area which uses tons of known toxic chemicals who have suffered ill effects? You must be profiting some how or are one of those who expose themselves to toxics and don't have an issue until it's too late.

It's a no brainer, here's an equation to help you thru your denial:
Tons of airborne known toxic chemical releasing into the air right up to peoples backyards = high probability of health problems as a result.

Where's the love? Where's the humanity?