DHHL meetings on geothermal energy exploration

[MyManao]

Finally, someone with the cojones to step up and do what the state should have done ages ago. Especially with all this talk of renewables.. and to think it's the Hawaiians leading the charge. Touché!

From.. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/05/06...ploration/

DHHL to hold public meetings on statewide geothermal energy exploration
The agency wants to explore 12 potential sites for geothermal energy on its land from Hawai’i island to Maui County, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

Which is part reads..

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will hold a series of public meetings this summer on plans to explore geothermal energy statewide.

DHHL held a mock meeting Monday in Kapolei to prepare for unveiling the plans to the public. The agency wants to explore 12 potential sites for geothermal energy on its land from Hawaiʻi island to Maui County, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

Preparing for pushback

Kali Watson, chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, said the agency is expecting pushback.

“I think part of the pushback is the lack of understanding. People don’t realize there is new technology now,” Watson said.

“When you look at these assets, the energy from Pele as well as the water that we are trying to convert that to an asset which will really help our beneficiaries,” Watson said.

This is the second mock meeting DHHL has had to fine tune its message. Nine geothermal public meetings are planned across the state this summer as close as possible to the potential sites

Full article at link above..

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Who do I make my check out to?  Native Hawaiian Electric Company?

[TomK]

Who do I make my check out to?  Native Hawaiian Electric Company?

“I think part of the pushback is the lack of understanding. People don’t realize there is new technology now,” Watson said.

"“When you look at these assets, the energy from Pele as well as the water that we are trying to convert that to an asset which will really help our beneficiaries,” Watson said."

I think you make the check out to Pele.

[Punatang]

Apologies MyMan! - for duplicating your thread.  I deleted mine.  

People still write checks?


   


ETA:  One has to wonder how Josh "Drill Baby Drill" Green and Mark "Free Gas" Glick will react if this geothermal initiative might affect their big beautiful JERA Liquid Natural Gas deal with Japan.  

Not saying anyone would ever do this, but, if a company like JERA, with extremely deep pockets wanted to protect their big Hawaii LNG deal and put the kibosh on this geothermal thing, are they allowed to spend money to create and amplify Pele Power deniers?  Like, can they post "studies" (that they also pay for) on BlueSky (BS) and FaceBook (FB) and infiltrate the picnic tables at The Natch with operatives, in order to spread their desired narrative?  Is that even a thing?  

[kalakoa]

extremely deep pockets wanted to protect their big Hawaii LNG deal

No need -- our government will do that "for free".

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

are they allowed to spend money  … and infiltrate the picnic tables at The Natch with operatives, in order to spread their desired narrative?  Is that even a thing? 

Let us know!  And mostly, how much do they pay?  Is it in cash, and do they cover a per diem for lunch from the Natch?  Mileage?

[Durian Fiend]

ETA:  One has to wonder how Josh "Drill Baby Drill" Green and Mark "Free Gas" Glick will react if this geothermal initiative might affect their big beautiful JERA Liquid Natural Gas deal with Japan...

I don't see how it could affect the JERA proposal.  Do you?    Your characterization of Green as a "drill baby drill" proponent is way off the mark.

[Punatang]

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

I have not done the math.  Then again, no one really has, right? 

https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/bill...mport-plan


Your characterization of Green as a "drill baby drill" proponent is way off the mark.

Oh?  

https://www.eenews.net/articles/hawaiis-...ce-of-lng/

[TomK]

I don't know whether any of those articles are true, biased, or unbiased, but it's not as if we're going to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in the blink of an eye. What disappoints me is that we live on top of the most renewable energy source available to Hawaii, and the reasons it's not exploited more have nothing to do with science.

[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.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/02/0...ck-burner/

"The LNG pathway here has shifted several times over the years, as a new governor came into power — from Linda Lingle, to Neal Abercrombie, then David Ige and now Josh Green.
Two decades ago, Lingle first championed the move away from fossil fuels and opposed the use of LNG for power generation." 


Regarding your lamentation that the impediments to geothermal adoption are not science based:

There are some who sense that because Hawaiians are the primary stakeholders in this new geothermal energy initiative, perhaps we can overcome some of the obstacles that have retarded development in the past.  Let's hope.

Here is a statement from Hawaiian Electric (bias guaranteed), which affirms that, from their perspective, the back and forth deviation [from Lingle's and Ige's vision] has delayed our transition to renewable and carbon free energy.  Governor Green is taking us where Governors Lingle & Ige were adamant that we should not go.  Hawaiian Electric maintains that if we pursue this LNG "choice" that it, "must be locked in".

https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/stateme...uels-study

Statement on State Energy Office Alternative Fuels Study

Release Date: 1/28/2025

Download PDF

HONOLULU, Jan. 28, 2025 – Hawaiian Electric appreciates the analysis conducted by the State Energy Office, which builds on a foundation of previous work, including the company’s own 2023 decarbonization scenarios study, the 2023 Integrated Grid Plan and various assessments of LNG, including those commissioned by Hawaiian Electric years ago.

No one is satisfied with the pace of the transition from fossil fuels to renewables and we appreciate this report acknowledges that everyone – government, regulators, interest groups and utilities – is responsible for where we are today. With technology and federal policy changing almost daily, we remain committed to a renewable energy future and support a comprehensive look at all options that would reduce emissions, enhance resilience and make electricity more affordable.

The Alternative Fuel, Repowering and Energy Transition Study notes that the suitability of LNG for Hawaii was first studied over a decade ago. Hawaiian Electric spent four years and millions of dollars pursuing an LNG transition that was abruptly halted by a shift in state policy.

This stop-and-start public policy loop, rather than inaction by the utility, has contributed greatly to the composition of Hawaii power plants today. Similarly, shifting regulatory priorities have driven decisions that delayed the procurement of new firm and renewable generation resources over the past 15 years. Specifically:

• Gov. Linda Lingle (2002-2010) opposed the use of LNG for power generation.
  
• Gov. Neil Abercrombie (2010-2014) made the use of LNG a policy imperative and directed Hawaiian Electric to “move forward with plans to include natural gas in Hawaii’s energy portfolio.”
  
• Gov. David Ige (2014-2022) blocked the use of LNG, saying: “Any time and money spent on LNG is time and money not spent on renewable energy.”
  

With this report, the state returns to seeing LNG as a key component of its energy transition strategy. If that choice is pursued, it must be “locked in,” accompanied by durable policy decisions that ensure consistency and clarity, especially for the investors who will be asked to provide billions of dollars of capital to refurbish and replace infrastructure.

A critical element is engagement with the many people and organizations with a stake in, and an opinion on, Hawaii’s energy future. The fuels study acknowledges this was a “desktop feasibility analysis” that did not include outreach. We look forward to participating in this conversation and share Gov. Green’s stated desire to “accelerate Hawaii’s energy transition to renewable and carbon-free energy.”  (emphasis mine)