Puna geothermal plant to hold evacuation drills this summer

By TOM CALLIS
Source: Tribune-Herald staff writer
tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com

HILO — Hawaii County is planning its first evacuation drill for a disaster at Puna’s nearly two-decades old geothermal power plant.

Planning for the exercise is still in its early stages, but Benedict Fuata, the Big Island’s civil defense coordinator, said he is aiming to hold a three-day drill in mid-July.

It will be the first drill since the plant, now operating at 38 megawatts, went online in 1993. It will also act as a test of the county’s first geothermal evacuation plan, now being drafted.

Fuata said the county is acting in response to the outcry from dozens of Puna residents concerned that there isn’t enough health and safety protections in place. Those anxieties have resurfaced in the wake of Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s recent efforts to expand geothermal operations on the Big Island by up to 50 megawatts.

“I was mandated by Mayor [Billy] Kenoi to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “He has concerns and I have concerns.”

Fuata said he expects homes to be evacuated as part of the exercise but the scope of the drill hasn’t been determined. The plant, operated by Puna Geothermal Venture, sits in a largely residential area in Pahoa. County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd estimated last week that between 87 and 140 homes are located within a mile of the plant.

During recent Hawaii County Council meetings, neighbors of the plant recalled having to flee their homes in 1991 during a well blowout, which released steam created by volcanic activity into the air. Some have claimed adverse health effects as a result.

Fuata, who became civil defense coordinator in March, said part of his job is to investigate those claims to understand the public’s risk. “I’m in fact-finding mode right now,” he said.

The steam, used to create electricity, carries harmful toxins, the worst being hydrogen sulfide. The plant operates with a closed system, meaning no steam is released unless there is a problem. PGV has its own community evacuation plan in place, but it is unclear why it hasn’t been tested since the blowout or why the county hadn’t developed its own plan before.

Fuata refereed to the company’s plan as “general” and said he thinks a more detailed and coordinated effort is needed. Both Kenoi and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, who is challenging Kenoi in this year’s mayoral race, said it’s time for the county to do more to address the issue. Kenoi said the county needs to be prepared for any disaster, whether a tsunami, hurricane, or geothermal related. “Every time you go through a drill you learn something,” he said. “You become better, you become more prepared.”

Yagong said he also has been discussing the need for a county plan with Fuata over the last few weeks. He plans to introduce a bill June 6 that would also require an evacuation plan to be developed for current and future geothermal operations. Yagong gave praise during a phone interview Saturday to Puna residents who have brought their concerns to light. “People have expressed their outrage and that has moved government to action,” he said.

The plant has had six air emission violations. Detected levels of hydrogen sulfide were not considered harmful, according to the state Department of Health, which doesn’t consider the plant to be a threat to public health.

Environmental Exemptions for Geothermal Energy near final Approval

KITV-TV - May 4, 2012

Unlike wind or solar, geothermal energy located deep below the earth's surface is always on.

But companies will often shy away from exploring new geothermal sites in Hawaii because of the state's strict environmental regulations, which cost both time and money.

On Thursday, a subcommittee of the state Environmental Council heard from potential geothermal developers about why the State Land Department should be allowed to waive certain environmental regulations.

"The cost and timelines of the current rules make it restrictive to explore in this state," said Bill Sherman, land manager for Ormat Technolgies, a Nevada based company that owns the 30 megawatt geothermal plant in Puna on the Big Island.

After hearing testimony, the seven member subcommittee approved three environmental exemptions for geothermal exploration. They include non-invasive testing and analysis, the issuance of leases on state or reserved lands, and the drilling of exploration wells.

If approved by the full 15-member Environmental Council May 17, the exemptions would allow the State Land Department to drop costly environmental assessments from geothermal exploration projects.

"This simply gives us the opportunity to point out an exemption for the environmental processes," said State Land Director William Aila. "There's still all of the other state, federal and county processes that have to be complied with."

The 30-megawattt Puna Geothermal Venture plant already produces 20 percent of the Big Island's energy needs. Allowing exploration wells to be dug more quickly and cheaply could lead to the construction of more plants.

Ormat is exploring the construction of a 50-megawatt geothermal plant on Ulupalakua Ranch in southern Maui. Meanwhile, Hawaii Electric Light Company opened a docket with the Public Utilities Commission May 1, asking for proposals to build a new 50-megawatt geothermal plant on the Big Island.

In his State of the State speech in January, Gov. Neil Abercrombie lobbied for more renewable energy output and mentioned the Big Island by name.

"That's really in response to the demand that's coming from the community on Hawaii Island," said Aila. "They're paying some of the highest prices for electricity in the state."

However, opposition to the geothermal industry on the Big Island continues to grow louder, where critics blame a variety of health problems on the Ormat plant in Puna.

Gary Hooser, an ex-officio member of the Environmental Council and director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, believes geothermal technology doesn't harm human health, even though he voted against the exemption for exploratory wells.

"I think if done properly, like most things, geothermal can be perfectly safe," said Hooser. "We need to explore all these alternatives to renewable energy."

Longtime native Hawaiian activist Mililani Trask is currently representing Innovations Development Group, Inc., a company which hopes to dig geothermal exploration wells on the Big Island.

Although members of The Pele Defense Fund have begun speaking out against the interference geothermal plants could pose to native Hawaiian Pele practitioners, Trask says those concerns are overblown. She points to a 1995 decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court that affirmed access rights of native Hawaiians.

"Since that time and until the very present moment, there hasn't been a single case of a single Hawaiian prevented from worshiping tutu Pele because of a geothermal plant in Puna," said Trask. "It just hasn't happened. It's a non-issue."

Environmental exemptions for geothermal energy near final approval

HONOLULU - Unlike wind or solar, geothermal energy located deep below the earth's surface is always on.


But companies will often shy away from exploring new geothermal sites in Hawaii because of the state's strict environmental regulations, which cost both time and money.
On Thursday, a subcommittee of the state Environmental Council heard from potential geothermal developers about why the State Land Department should be allowed to waive certain environmental regulations.

"The cost and timelines of the current rules make it restrictive to explore in this state," said Bill Sherman, land manager for Ormat Technolgies, a Nevada based company that owns the 30 megawatt geothermal plant in Puna on the Big Island.

After hearing testimony, the seven member subcommittee approved three environmental exemptions for geothermal exploration. They include non-invasive testing and analysis, the issuance of leases on state or reserved lands, and the drilling of exploration wells.

If approved by the full 15-member Environmental Council May 17, the exemptions would allow the State Land Department to drop costly environmental assessments from geothermal exploration projects.
"This simply gives us the opportunity to point out an exemption for the environmental processes," said State Land Director William Aila. "There's still all of the other state, federal and county processes that have to be complied with."

The 30-megawattt Puna Geothermal Venture plant already produces 20 percent of the Big Island's energy needs. Allowing exploration wells to be dug more quickly and cheaply could lead to the construction of more plants.

Ormat is exploring the construction of a 50-megawatt geothermal plant on Ulupalakua Ranch in southern Maui. Meanwhile, Hawaii Electric Light Company opened a docket with the Public Utilities Commission May 1, asking for proposals to build a new 50-megawatt geothermal plant on the Big Island.

In his State of the State speech in January, Gov. Neil Abercrombie lobbied for more renewable energy output and mentioned the Big Island by name. "That's really in response to the demand that's coming from the community on Hawaii Island," said Aila. "They're paying some of the highest prices for electricity in the state."However, opposition to the geothermal industry on the Big Island continues to grow louder, where critics blame a variety of health problems on the Ormat plant in Puna.

Gary Hooser, an ex-officio member of the Environmental Council and director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control, believes geothermal technology doesn't harm human health, even though he voted against the exemption for exploratory wells.

"I think if done properly, like most things, geothermal can be perfectly safe," said Hooser. "We need to explore all these alternatives to renewable energy."

Longtime native Hawaiian activist Mililani Trask is currently representing Innovations Development Group, Inc., a company which hopes to dig geothermal exploration wells on the Big Island.

Although members of The Pele Defense Fund have begun speaking out against the interference geothermal plants could pose to native Hawaiian Pele practitioners, Trask says those concerns are overblown. She points to a 1995 decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court that affirmed access rights of native Hawaiians.

"Since that time and until the very present moment, there hasn't been a single case of a single Hawaiian prevented from worshiping tutu Pele because of a geothermal plant in Puna," said Trask. "It just hasn't happened. It's a non-issue."

Source: KITV News

Second Response of Mililani Trask on issues of Health:

Responding to my comments on Health impacts & allegations, I want to note that while there have been several cases filed against PGV & its predecessors, I still have yet to find any case where the Plaintiffs making the allegations were affirmed by a Court Ruling and where the Court found that their illness was attributable to geothermal development in Puna. If there is such a case I would like to read it.

When the issue of Health impacts are raised, the nexus between cause & effect is critical. In the Maureen Gap case, she claimed that she was ill due to the plant emissions. She lost because she couldn’t prove it.  Her treating Physician, allergist & psychologist could not establish any link to geothermal development either. The State’s own studies conducted in the 1980’s did not establish any connection between ill health & geothermal  production activities. The States studies included a wide range of residents, 88.8% of Leilani Estates were surveyed and 93.2% of Hawaiian Beaches.  It was a broad based & ethnically diverse study. The Legator & Sherman studies were not. They surveyed people who had been selected by

Puna Malama Pono (PMP) to participate in the survey. In flyers sent out on the survey, PMP encouraged people to participate if “they believed the geothermal plant made them sick.” People who did not believe the plant made them sick were not included in the survey effort.

Dr. Bruce Anderson, an Environmental Epidemiologist, had oversight of the 1984 State study. He was also the State deputy director of Health when Mr. Legator released his report in 1997. Anderson challenged the Legator data & conclusions because Legator had only “studied” a handful of people (69) who were admittedly opposed to geothermal & who had a background on hydrogen sulfide.

Many cases have been filed by people claiming a negative health impact but none have been litigated to a positive outcome for the Plaintiffs. I would like the actual cases citations where these people actually win a judgment. In addition, it appears that many of the people bringing theses claims filed with the intent of getting the PGV to pay them money. In some instances, people sued many times, for themselves, their pet goats, their bees, their trees. etc. etc. Each time they settled out for money, they never took the case all the way to a final disposition to get the plant closed or repaired. Later some of these folks sued again, some sued several times & settled every time. None were successful in getting a Court to substantiate their allegations and shut down the plant!

Bob Petricci admits in his presentation to the County that over 70 people filed claims & received “millions”, but he doesn’t say how many millions, who got the money & what for.

Where are these cases & why weren’t they pursued to completion? Petricci responds with the Legator & Sherman surveys, but those surveys did not prove any connection between allegations & truth.

Mililani B. Trask

IDG Presentation to Hawaii County Council

Hawaii Residents Raise Serious Concerns about PGV, Geothermal Energy’s Clean Energy Credentials

The experience of residents living near the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), about 20 miles south of Hilo on Hawaii’s “Big Island”, raises serious questions about the environmental health and safety of geothermal energy and power plants. Longstanding residents of area around PGV’s geothermal plant– now being expanded– were given a long overdue public hearing on geothermal energy recently at a special session of the Hawaii County Council in Pahoa. Their well-documented, well-presented testimony provides details of the history of what’s now the PGV geothermal energy plant’s development and operations over the decades since it first began producing electricity.

It’s not a pretty picture. In fact, it’s very disturbing. Open venting of geothermal gases and liquids rife with toxic chemicals and heavy metals, poor environmental monitoring, control and reporting, corporate lies, lax oversight and a particularly troubling, even seemingly nonchalant disregard for residents’ repeated requests to local government and state authorities to investigate their concerns and claims command attention and raise very serious environmental health and safety questions regarding geothermal energy’s credentials as a ‘clean, green’ energy source.

Hawaiian government and electric utility HECO (Hawaii Electric Light Co.) are looking to significantly exapnd geothermal energy production. Hawaii, as well as other states and countries around the world, have very substantial geothermal energy resources, and they are looking to develop them as sources of clean, stable, long-lasting electrical power. The benefits of doing so need to be comprehensively, honestly and openly assessed and considered, however, against the costs, and I’m talking here not about the financial costs, but about the long-term, possibly irreparable threats and damage to human and other forms of life, as well as land, water and air.

Geothermal energy technology has come a long way since the 1970s, but if the experience described by residents living near the PGV plant is a reliable indication– and it seems to be– geothermal energy developers such as Ormat Technologies, which operates PGV, along with utilities and local authorities need to respond truthfully, comprehensively and quickly to Hawaiian residents’ legitimate concerns if they care to preserve their own credibility and legitimacy. Watch the Big Island Video News video of the PGV geothermal plant resident group’s presentation via this hyperlink.

Thanks to Oahu News for posting this. And thanks to this determined, civic-minded group of residents who have fought so long to have their voices heard and their legitimate concerns addressed. The issues they raise need to be addressed, and they stand to benefit not only themselves, but residents living near geothermal plants everywhere, as well as the geothermal, clean energy and clean tech industries in the US and worldwide. That’s if their voices and actions are given the consideration they deserve.

Source: Clean Technica