HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0354.008 2024-2026l.i1Wv
COW-064
From:
Cory
Sent:
Monday, July 7, 2025 11:38 AM
o
n
Subject:
re. Comm 354 Waika CRCOC July 8
c
6
comments on Communication 354 Waika
v
CD
for Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee�v
'rl,-,,
=r"
3 PM Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Hilo chambers
N
--C>
from Cory Harden
�_z
o
I went to two Waika
meetings. At the first the facilitator, faced with arguments between attendees, finally screamed "shut
up!„
At the second I asked a question, I think about any problems in New Zealand, and the response was rather hostile.
We were also told that geothermal in Hawai'i is just like geothermal in New Zealand, which seems questionable.
One of Waika's slides [PDF p. 16] says building a geothermal plant would take eight years, but another slide [PDF p. 37]
says eleven years. Which is it?
By contrast, "Taking an onshore wind farm from idea to reality now takes about 53 months [about four and a half
years] ... Solar projects now take about 41 months [about three and a half years]." according to the Australian National
University.
httDS://iceds.anu.edu,au/news-events/news/renewable-r)roiects--are-petting-built-faster-%E2%80%93-
there% E2%80%99s-even-more- need--soeed
You can graze animals and grow crops under solar farms and wind turbines —not so much with geothermal plants.
Waika says geothermal 'is "firm power". But PGV was knocked offline for several years by the 2018 eruption. And if you
have solar and wind farms distributed around the island, battery storage gets you through times without sun and wind.
Waika proposes waste -to -energy (PDF p. 14). But that idea has been soundly defeated twice on Hawai'i Island. It causes
tremendous problems with harmful emissions and discourages reuse and recycling.
Comm. o
Ref. To:
Ref. Date