Mahalo, everyone, for sending in testimony in support of the DLNR’s request to streamline the process of drilling exploratory geothermal wells. There was a flood of testimony in favor of the exemptions, and the non-invasive exploration was approved.
The “slim hole” exploration exemption, however, was not approved.
I thought that former Mayor and long time Civil Defense Director Harry Kim’s appeal – for the process to slow down and not move forward too fast – was very effective. Though we were on opposite sides of the “slim hole” issue, we are both concerned about the community.
It might be that this delay has a silver lining. It will give us time to gather up the data first, so we really understand how our resource looks, and it gives us time to go back to the Puna community and talk more with them, as well.
Gary Hooser, who voted against exemptions in committee, had asked for extra time for the Mayor to testify since he came all the way from the Big Island. I ran into Mayor Kim on the plane back to Hilo, and he told me we are both working for the same result. I agreed with him.
We are now going through the process, just like Patrick Kahawaiola‘a talks about.
From this blog: Patrick Kahawaiola‘a, President of the Keaukaha Community Association, told me, “It is about the process” – and so we need to aloha everyone, no matter what side of the issue they are on.
It’s very important that our geothermal resource be assessed using the most modern techniques available. Hawai‘i is so far behind third-world nations in using modern techniques to assess our geothermal that it’s actually embarrassing.
The good news is that Dr. Don Thomas will start doing this research soon. Once we have the resulting data, we can all have a real, informed conversation as to what the next steps should be.
Where we’re at right now:
