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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0825.041 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Veronica Rocha [Veronica.Rocha @dbedt.hawaii.gov] Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2012 10:55 AM °; ' 4 j ,s C: 12 To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: Mark B Glick; Cameron B Black; Andrea Gill Subject: Bill No. 292 Testimony Attachments: Bill 292_Testimony_HSEO.pdf Dear Hawaii County Council Members, Please see the attached testimony regarding bill number 292 on behalf of the Hawaii State Energy Office. Thank you, Veronica Rocha Hawaii State Energy Office DBEDT Comm. No __ 4 Ref.To: Ref. Date OCT 1 10/15/2012 �� H,Q NEIL ABERCROMBIE ,r,�.. h GOVERNOR E r 1959 ••.9 RICHARD C.LIM . 1-- A, = tt. A DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, DIRECTOR VC. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM MARY DEPUTY DIRECTOR �`�t..,' .fb STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES DIVISION Telephone: (808)587-3807 �, 235 South Beretania Street,Leiopapa A Kamehameha Bldg.,5E^Floor,Honolulu,Hawaii 96813 Fax: (808)586-2536 -,A. Mailing Address: P.O.Box 2359,Honolulu,Hawaii 96804 Web site: www.hawaii.gov/dbedt October 12, 2012 Honorable Hawaii County Council c/o Office of the County Clerk County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Subject: Testimony on County of Hawai`i Bill No. 292, Relating to Geothermal Drilling Dear Hawai`i County Council Members, Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on Bill 292, which proposes to amend Chapter 14, General Welfare, Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), by adding new definitions and restricting geothermal drilling operations within one mile or less from a residence to the operating hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We appreciate the Council's efforts to address noise and light concerns raised by community members residing near geothermal drilling operations. To protect human health, every drilling and production operation in Hawaii County must at all times comply with county, state, and federal laws regulating noise,light, air, water, and other emissions. In addition to these regulatory protections, common industry measures may be implemented to significantly dampen the magnitude of noise and light, such as noise shields around drilling operations and equipment, noise mufflers, directional lighting, lighting shields, and/or monitoring near residences.1 According to geothermal industry and research experts consulted, daily stoppages of geothermal drilling operations can more than double well drill times as withdrawal of drilling equipment from the well may be needed to reduce the risk of caving, equipment loss, and fluid instability. Increased well drill time will extend the project development period and augment project costs. Given facility development costs are factored into the rate at which a geothermal facility sells power to the utility, higher project costs will result in higher electricity costs to the ratepayer. 1 A Guide to Geothermal Energy and the Environment,p.41-43,Geothermal Energy Association(2007). Honorable Hawai`i County Council October 12, 2012 Page 2 of 2 Geothermal energy has become an important component of Hawaii County's energy portfolio, providing over 232,906 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2011; 21.10% of the electricity distributed by the Hawai`i Electric Light Company (HELCO) that year.2 This does not include the recently added 8 megawatts (MW)—bringing the total power plant size to 38 MW— HELCO is purchasing from Puna Geothermal Venture at rates HELCO estimates will reduce customer electricity bills through 2025.3 Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Bill 292. Please do not hesitate to contact Andrea Gill, Geothermal Specialist, from my office if you would like to discuss further. Andrea can be reached by email at agillIi:adbedt.hav,a i i.p.ov or phone at 808-933-0312. Sincerely, o Mark B. Glick, Administrator Hawai`i State Energy Office Cc: Andrea Gill, Geothermal Specialist, Hawai`i State Energy Office 2 Renewable Portfolio Standard Status Report for the year ended December 31, 2011,Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.(May 4,2012). 3 Decision and Order No. 30088,Docket No.2011-0040,Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii(Dec. 30,2011).