Council to Hold Hearing for Nighttime Geothermal Drilling Ban

By TOM CALLIS
Stephens Media
tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com

A proposal to prohibit geothermal drilling at night ran into a snag Wednesday when the Hawaii County Council opted to hold a public hearing on the issue rather than take a final vote.

Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda proposed the hearing, approved in a 5-3 vote, citing confusion over whether the nighttime ban would apply to Puna Geothermal Venture. Council members Fred Blas, Brenda Ford and Pete Hoffmann voted no.

The hearing, to be held in Puna on a yet-to-be-determined date, would follow two bill readings by the council and a positive recommendation from the council’s Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability Committee. Public testimony was taken at the three previous meetings, sometimes at length, from supporters of the ban as well as PGV representatives.

Ikeda said the hearing would allow PGV to better explain what it does to limit noise during drilling, as well as its “vested rights.” He also mentioned what he saw as a disconnect between some of the testifiers and how PGV runs its 38-megawatt plant, the only geothermal facility in the state.

“I don’t like to be the only dissenting vote, look like I don’t support the people,” Ikeda said before proposing the hearing. “I do, but I also believe Puna Geothermal has rights, too.”

A few council members said they believe the county’s legal staff determined that the bill couldn’t affect drilling at PGV since it already has a permit from the Windward Planning Commission for future drilling, and questioned the need for a hearing.

“I think I heard the Corporation Counsel clearly indicate it can’t be retroactive,” Hoffmann said.

“Therefore, I don’t see PGV related to this issue at all.”

Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi said he had the same interpretation.

“I think people could misinterpret what could happen,” he said.

Hilo Councilman J Yoshimoto suggested the council adopt an amendment stating the bill doesn’t apply to PGV.

Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, who introduced the bill, said an amendment is not necessary, leading to it being dropped during discussion.

“I think the (executive) session we went through was quite clear,” he said. “I don’t think there is any confusion there.”

Deputy Corporation Counsel William Brilhante said he couldn’t comment on whether the bill would apply to PGV, citing potential liability.

Either way, the bill would still apply to new geothermal operations.

Brilhante said enforcement would be up to the county Planning Department.

Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.

The bill was prompted by drilling at PGV earlier this year that some nearby residents said was too disruptive and caused them to lose sleep.

PGV Plant Manager Mike Kaleikini told the council he received about 45 complaints during drilling, lasting from March 1 to July 7.

That’s up from the four complaints during drilling in 2010, which he said was a few decibels louder.

Kaleikini said the plant uses insulation and a barrier wall to reduce noise.

It’s also considering adding another wall, he said.