The Future of Geothermal Energy in Puna

[Moderator 2]

The state of Hawaii would like to explore the expansion of geothermal energy in the state.  In Puna, maybe even on Maui and Oahu.  Will the property buyouts in Puna since the 2018 lava flow make this possible?  With less opposition?

There are several bills pending in the state house and state senate that would appropriate funds for exploratory wells.

Mark Glick, HSEO director, estimates that current funding could produce the test well in the first quarter of next year.

If the agency’s request for $33 million more is granted, HSEO intends to do similar work elsewhere on Hawaii island outside Puna, on Maui and even on Oahu, where drilling deep enough could reach geothermal resources.

Glick said the push stems from a realization that not enough suitable land exists to attain renewable energy goals for electricity and transportation fuel using solar, wind and biofuel crop projects.

https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2025/04/...-up-steam/

[MyManao]

The state of Hawaii would like to explore the expansion of geothermal energy in the state..

One can hope, eh?

To appreciate the possibilities.. everything happening is predicated on the research geochem did in his younger days.. here is a link to his map, Geothermal Resources of Hawaii, which was first published in 1983..

https://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/i...6947524749

From that page you can select which format to download the map in. I find the .pdf to be a better resource than the .jpg, and a bit clearer. Although they are both, seemingly, made from a scan of a paper print of the map itself.

I, personally, think geothermal should be developed on the back side of Hualalai.. which is out of civil land use areas and a straight run to the coast if an undersea cable network were to be developed. Looking at the map it's also easy to imagine, as the article points out, development on other islands. It is cheaper, more stable, robust, and expandable, with the smallest possible actual footprint, and the least garbage on the backside than any other resource being considered.

[Punaperson]

If memory serves from many years ago, serious interest had shifted to exploring the geothermal resource on Maui, where laying cables to connect the power to Oahu is not a problem. The Alenuihaha Channel, some of the roughest waters in the world, is as much of a challenge as is Pele.

[ChunksterK]

"Will the property buyouts in Puna since the 2018 lava flow make this possible? With less opposition?" - Mod2

No such luck. The same band of obstructionists, the Pele Defense Fund, has already assembled as reported in the Star-Advertiser at https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/04/1...-up-steam/ on April 13

Here is a snippet from the article, which I'm pretty sure is behind a pay wall:

"In March, Terri Napeahi, a Pele Defense Fund representative, told the state House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that drilling for geothermal resources would constitute desecration and prompt litigation.

Tara Rojas told the same committee that Puna residents have been “gassed” by toxic air. “Please do not fast-track this,” she said.

Pua Case, a leader in protests that indefinitely blocked development of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea in 2019 over cultural objections, told the committee in written testimony that more study about the impacts of geothermal development on the land, water and people of Puna are needed before more development."

As others have said, "This is why we can't have nice things."

[leilanidude]

The same group of anti-everything protesting and making false claims, yet again, about geothermal. They claim they are being poisoned, etc. Funny how only the most vocal of the protesters are ever poisoned? Everyone else who lives in the area is just fine? The workers at the plant are never poisoned either?

[MyManao]

Pua Case.. told the committee in written testimony that "more study.. are needed before more development."

As in.. don't do zip because I have no idea what we're talking about. Seriously, the entire issue has been studied, almost, to death..

I think Pua is wonderful, but just like the notion that the faithful need to have faith in science so should Pua. Or, if nothing else, follow the wonder, and open-mindedness of her king..

From.. https://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/kalakau...-honolulu/

A snippet from mid-article.. in The New York Sun newspaper on September 26, 1881, reporting about a meeting between King Kalakaua, his AG, and Thomas Edison..

"“Can you lay your wires in submarine cables?” Attorney-General Armstrong asked.

“Well, it would cost so much, that’s all,” Edison replied.

“Because you might come over to the Sandwich Islands,” the King’s advisor said, “where we have a volcano that burns a thousand million tons of coal a day, and you could put your boilers on top of the volcano and get power enough to supply the country.”

“Is that where you get your coal?” Edison asked, overlooking the joke in his thirst for information.

“No; we get our coal from Australia,” said the Attorney-General,” but we build great hopes on that volcano. When we sell out we expect to get more for that than for anything we have got.”"

[Obie]

If you are on Facebook you can access the main group of crazy's.

It's an open site so you don't have to join. Sarah Steiner is the main loony but her daughter Jasmine has kind of taken over for her mom.


A’OLE PGV

[Moderator 2]

Thanks Obie.
I checked the webpage and first thing I saw were comments about the dangers of PGV, with a video of a woman driving, one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, eyes looking down at her camera as much as glancing on the road.

Talk about danger.  I hope I’m never on the road when she’s headed in the opposite direction.

[Punatang]

Mark Glick is a good egg whom I've known since he was a much younger man.  In that time he's always been working for our people and aina by advocating for alternative energy sources.  We've had long conversations on many topics and hiked together in some of Hawaii's most incredible nooks and crannies.  On those hikes and in those conversations there has not always been agreement on the best direction to go but there has always been great respect, empathy, discoveries, and ultimately greater understanding.  I'm proud of Mark and I even like the photo of him and Hillary he proudly displays in his office.  He's working hard for Hawaii and he loves this aina.  His approach has always been aligned with Hawaii's own former President Barack Obama.

“We can’t have an energy strategy for the last century that traps us in the past. We need an energy strategy for the future – an all-of-the-above strategy for the 21st century that develops every source of American-made energy.” – President Barack Obama, March 15, 2012