HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0421.046 2012-2014 Council Testimony
From: Suzanne Wakelin <malamatree @gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2013 10:46 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony in SUPPORT of BILL 129
Aloha Council Members,
I am writing in SUPPORT of Bill 129 against the use of fracking technologies in Hawai'i.
There are significant risks to the water table as well as earthquakes with the use of fracking and EGS in
Hawaii. There are no protections provided by the State to ensure that these new and experimental technologies
do not cause irreparable harm to the 'aina and the people of Hawai'i. We know that there is a strong drive from
the State to promote geothermal development and the use of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) is a part of
that.
The debacle of HGP-A, the experimental Hawai`i Geothermal Project that was initiated by the UH and the
USGS in Puna shows us that we cannot trust the State to make sure that their experiments do no harm. Please
see the Final Report of the Geothermal Public Health Assessment commissioned by Mayor Kenoi which
specifically expresses serious concerns about the problems associated with those experiments. None of the
publications that are promoting EGS in Hawai'i include proper assessment of the potential dangers of these
technologies, they simply focus on the potential benefits and the economics.
PICHTR Hawaii Geothermal Assessment and Roadmap published in 2013 includes statements about the
potential for getting Federal money for EGS experiments as well as loosening the regulatory system.
Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture Technology Assessment Engineered Geothermal Systems
concludes that it "...might be a good investment for Hawaii...". No mention is made of the potential devastation
that may occur from these experiments.
The risks of hydraulic fracturing to Hawai'i island's unique geologic, geographic, and aquatic environment are
too great to leave this issue to chance. Please support Bill 129.
Mahalo,
Suzanne Wakelin
Pahoa, HI
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