Residents push back on Puna Geothermal Venture during upgrade project
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — At a meeting on Tuesday in Pahoa, many who showed up were skeptical of Puna Geothermal Venture and its upgrade project.
“There is trauma that is incurred from all of this,” said resident Kanoe Case.
The company’s Repower Project has equipment upgrades and increased power generation. It has 12 generating units that are more than 30 years old, and the plan is to install three larger generating units and decommission the old ones.
PGV says it’s already completed grading and grubbing for the project, but for decades some residents and geothermal opponents have worried about safety, environmental toxins and illnesses.
“Money isn’t sh*t when it’s comes to desecration of our health, our children,” said resident Jasmine Steiner.
“We are required by law to let people know what is going on there. It’s better than not telling anyone anything and you see the steam plume,” said Michael Kaleikini, Ormat senior director for Hawaii affairs.
“The plant is not producing any loud booms. There is no loud booms there,” he added.
Residents say they want better monitoring while PGV says it’s hired third-party experts and is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state health department.
“I know that you guys are doing the best you can to contain things, but accidents do happen. These are environmental toxins that are dangerous,” said Rich Oberteitner.
“If it’s shown that the origination of all of that what you mentioned is from PGV, we are accountable,” said Kaleikini.
“It’s your kuleana. There is no way to get around that fact, so for you to continually say go talk to somebody else is a betrayal of your duty to do business here,” said resident Millecent Cummings.
PGV has three injection wells and three production wells that have been out of service since the 2018 Kilauea eruption. The company said some wells could be used for monitoring while others may be plugged up and abandoned.
PGV plans to complete its upgrade project by the end of next year and said it will be shut down for five weeks during the transition.
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