Geothermal

Geothermal: Another Leg to our Economic Stool

Richard Ha writes:

This is an interview with Gail Tverberg, conducted by Justin and Seth of the Extraenvironmentalist.com in Montreal. She discusses how running short of cheap-to-extract oil affects the economy. It's about 13 minutes long.

Hawai‘i relies on oil for 90 percent of its energy usage. It is very dangerous.

We do have a way to protect ourselves, though, and that is geothermal. We are very fortunate: Very few people in the world have this opportunity.

Geothermal can provide another leg to our economic stool. But we do need everyone’s help to figure out how we can do this.

We don't want Hawai‘i to be the canary in the coal mine (where the canary dies). Instead, we want Hawaii to see a bright sunny morning where the canary sings. 

Geothermal

Why I Testified in Favor of Exempting Exploratory Slim Wells from EA/EIS

1 Comment

I testified in favor of exempting exploratory slim wells from the requirement of preparing an Environmental Assessement or an Environmental Impact Statement. (An EIS is already required for actual production wells.)

The reason I testified in favor of an exemption is because I feel there is already adequate protection in place. And it’s an important move forward – the age of cheap oil is over and Hawai‘i’s people are very vulnerable.

Here are some of the checks and controls:

  • The Board of Land and Natural Resources will have to approve all exploratory well applications.
  • A well-drilling permit will be required from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
  • Permits will be necessary from the Department of Health clean air branch and drinking water branch, and a community noise permit will also be required.
  • Also, there are applicable Hawaii Administrative Rules to mitigate impacts from: soil erosion, surface groundwater protection, air quality protection, noise impacts, protection of Fish/Wildlife/Botanical Resources, protection of cultural resources, waste disposal, environmental monitoring, blowout prevention and restoration of well site.

In addition, exploratory wells cannot be sited in conservation, urban or sensitive areas. They are allowed in Ag-zoned land.

More details on all this:

Geothermal Resources Exploration/Development – Mitigation of Impacts

DLNR Responsibility Regarding Management of Geothermal Resources

Geothermal

Settlement Agreement

3 Comments

The Pele Defense Fund has been in the news saying it will sue if the Large-Scale Geothermal/Cable project Settlement Agreement is violated.

Read the settlement agreement here.

The settlement agreement of 1995 says that an Environmental Impact Study must be done if a geothermal cable project is to be constructed. I think most people assume an EIS will be done, and that this isn’t a big issue.

That agreement shut down everything to do with geothermal back at a time when others, such as Iceland and the Phillipines, were busy planning for avoiding oil usage by enabling more geothermal. Therefore, today we are far behind Third World nations as we try to catch up in a world of escalating energy costs.

It was done wrong originally, but now we have a chance to do it right.

Geothermal, Iceland, Renewable Energy Sources

Reaching for Prosperity, Not Energy Security

1 Comment

In Iceland, where they use geothermal energy, their energy is 81 percent renewable, and the country is food- and energy-secure. Iceland has its house in order.

Now it’s negotiating for a 745-mile cable to England.

It’s clear to me that Iceland is reaching for prosperity, not for energy security.

Why can’t we shoot for prosperity for our future generations here in Hawai‘i?

Do we dare?

Geothermal

Big Island Video News: On the Hawaii Environmental Council Testimony on Geothermal

2 Comments

This video, and article, from Big Island Video News gives a good look at what went on Friday at the testimony before the Hawaii Environmental Council.

VIDEO: Harry Kim speaks out before geothermal exemption vote

HONOLULU, Hawaii: Former Hawaii Island mayor and civil defense director Harry Kim delivered surprise testimony before the Hawaii Environmental Council on Friday, and it appears to have made a difference in the council’s decision on important exemptions for geothermal energy exploration.

The council voted on two important measures… both would lift the requirements for an environmental assessment or an impact statement when exploring for new geothermal sources in Hawaii. The theory is that the exemptions would speed up the development process and encourage investment by sidestepping the expensive environmental review process.

On one side, folks like Richard Ha who are advocates for the geothermal industry, and who say that time is running out on affordable power here in the islands. Officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources are also in support of the exemptions.

But on the other side of the issue: residents of Puna, who live in the backyard of the 30 megawatt Puna Geothermal Venture, and say they suffer from noise and health problems, and are in fear of what appears to be a massive fast tracking to grow the industry, presumably on Puna’s volcanic rift zone.

Standing with those folks on Friday… Harry Kim, whose statements resonated with the Environmental Council….

 Read the rest

Geothermal

Mahalo, & a Silver Lining

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:

In order to accommodate the 72 MW of new planned increase to HELCO’s grid, which consists of 22MW from Hu Honua biomass plant as well as the 50MW of new geothermal, HELCO will need to shut down an equivalent number of oil fired plants.
This will stop the oil cost pass through of 72MW of electricity, and result in lowering and stabilizing of electricity costs to Big Island rate payers.

Screen shot 2012-05-20 at 11.23.12 AM

Geothermal, Government

What You Can Do To Support Geothermal Right Now

1 Comment
People have been asking what they can do to show their support for geothermal.
Would you consider sending in supporting testimony for DLNR’s request to streamline the process of drilling exploratory geothermal wells? Read the full DLNR exemption request here. This exemption was approved on May 3rd, and is up for final approval tomorrow.
You can see from these photos that the exploratory wells are not big.
Screen shot 2012-05-15 at 9.56.43 PM
Screen shot 2012-05-15 at 9.56.43 PM
Screen shot 2012-05-15 at 9.56.43 PM
And this would not exempt them from having to do an EIS if they plan to do production wells.
To send in your support, email the Office of Environmental Quality of the Department of Health before their meeting, which is at 2 p.m. tomorrow (5/17/12).
Some good reasons to support this follow. You can click on the email address, say you support the DLNR’s request to streamline the process of drilling exploratory geothermal wells, and then write about the reasons you’d like to include:
  • Oil prices are rising and we are running out of time.
  • If we can find alternate sites, Puna residents would not feel so beleaguered.
  • Geothermal energy will save people money.
  • Businesses will grow and more jobs will be available.
  • Fewer of our young people will leave to find jobs elsewhere.
  • Lower electricity costs will help farmers.
The price of electricity generated from geothermal is half that of oil, and the price will not go up. We are far behind the rest of the world in assessing our geothermal resource.
This would only take a minute of your time, and is something you could do right now if you’re one of the people wanting to show support for geothermal.
Geothermal, Peak Oil

My Op-Ed From Yesterday’s Paper: “Oil Price May Lead To Exporting Our Children”

2 Comments

I wrote an Op-Ed piece that appeared in yesterday’s Hawaii Tribune-Herald:

Oil price may lead to exporting our children

By RICHARD HA

Here are some real world facts, which people probably don’t realize yet because nobody’s comfortable talking about this: If we weren’t starting to change how we power our farm, we’d possibly be looking at bankruptcy before too long.

Recently, I talked to Dean Okimoto, of Nalo Farms, and he said the same thing. He’s not sure he’s going to be able to stay in business in the face of rising electricity costs.

I think there are plenty of other farmers in this same boat, too. Electricity prices keep doubling and doubling again — as do fertilizer and other farm input costs — and yet we cannot turn around and double the prices of our products.

Farmers are feeling guilty, like they’re failing in some way because they cannot make ends meet, but it’s not their fault as farmers. Energy prices are rising, and circumstances are out of our control.

…We need to come to grips with our situation, because there are serious consequences.

We will have to continue exporting our children, and Hawaii will change. Already there are more Hawaiians living on the U.S. mainland than here in Hawaii. People who have money will move here and find it a wonderful place to live, and those who can no longer afford it will leave.

It’s already happening. Look around downtown, and go into the nicer restaurants. They aren’t filled with local people. There are more mainland folks I don’t recognize than local people.

I don’t have any problem with people moving here, but I do have a problem with us having to export our children because we cannot afford to live here.

This is a call to action. We cannot sit back. We cannot afford to be quiet and afraid to rock the boat. We cannot afford to NOT take a stand. We have to do something….

There’s more. Read the rest here.

Also, I’m speaking on all this at Lyman Museum soon. It’s on Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m., if you are interested.

Geothermal, Renewable Energy Sources

What Is Our Energy Goal?

1 Comment

The world has changed fundamentally in the last 10 years. The price of oil, which had been low-cost energy for as long as any of us can remember, doubled and then doubled again.

The cost of oil is out of our control; it’s determined by the demand from China, India and other developing countries. The U.S. is using a million barrels per day less than it used to, but the developing countries are now using 7 million barrels per day more.

What should be our overall goal? Net Energy analysis can help us make sense of things. That is the Energy Return on Investment (EROI). It’s the net energy left over from the energy spent to obtain it. Subtract, from that energy, the energy it takes to get food and that gives you your lifestyle. That is why energy and agriculture are inextricably tied together. EROI analysis can help us understand the basic elements at work.

The ancient Hawaiians, without metal ores, were able to manage a positive energy balance such that their civilization flourished. They did this by maximizing energy – sun, wind and waves. And they were extra observant of the environment. They had to be, because they did not have the tools available that others had.

They were good at what counts. They were survivors.

Now it’s our turn.

There is a limit as to how much solar and wind energy we can put into the grid as it’s presently configured. And we have not been able to demonstrate biofuel on an industrial scale. Biomass is limited by the supply of trees and fossil fuel inputs. Ocean energy and energy storage could be game changers in the future. But we are not there yet.

Our task is to figure out how we will achieve a positive energy balance for Hawaii in a future of rising oil price. Globalization has made the world very complicated. And it’s easy to confuse capital and technology for energy. A long time ago, a friend of mine from the mountains of Tennessee told me about a saying they had back home. He said, “You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.”

But we can get affordable geothermal energy – a proven technology – out of the ground.

Geothermal

Re: Geothermal: Magnetotelluric Surveys Coming Soon

Dr. Don Thomas says he may be able to start magnetotelluric surveys as soon as June. It is very important to do these surveys, as they will result in the best information about our geothermal resources here on the Big Island and eventually in the whole state.

From Wikipedia:

Resistivity and Magnetotellurics

Magnetotellurics (MT) measurements allow detection of resistivity anomalies associated with productive geothermal structures, including faults and the presence of a cap rock, and allow for estimation of geothermal reservoir temperatures at various depths. MT has successfully contributed to the successful mapping and development of geothermal resources around the world since the early 1980s, including in the U.S.A. and countries located on the Pacific Ring of Fire such as Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Peru…

In the Philippines, we visited a geothermal plant obtaining steam from a volcano that last erupted 100,000 years ago. Could this mean that we might find hot rocks in unexpected places, like Mauna Kea, which last erupted 4,500 years ago?

Dr. Thomas estimates that he may be able to survey the whole state in a little over two years.