HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0421.083 2012-2014 *LJIANCfL
Council Testimony. CQUHT`( CLE i ), t a
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From: Dave Kisor <panther_dave @yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2013 1:26 PM 2013 SEP 30 PM LI: 06
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Ban enhanced geothermal (fracking)
Aloha Council
Why are people questioning Geothermal energy in Hawai'i?
Owing to Acts 55 (the Public Land Development Corporation or the Pillaged Land Destruction
Company, depending upon your perspective), and Act 97, which repealed County geothermal
subzones and County oversight (Act 96), it has been made known that HELCO (HECO, MECO or
whatever corporate abbreviations they hide behind) and some persons in local and state government
have plans for more geothermal development in Hawai'i and in particular, the Puna District (at least
for now, as the rest of the state is still up for grabs). This legislation is designed to "streamline," an
industry term meaning they couldn't care less about who their operations affect and do not want any
opposition from those it will affect and want to cram it down their throats, whether they want it or not.
This is not just an opinion, it is an observation.
Acts 55 and 97 are about the worst decisions the state has made since they decided we needed
albezia. To protect an industry from the citizens who may develop industry related medical conditions
is not why we have government, but since industry has much more money and power than most
citizens, some legislators tend to forget that they are supposed to be working for the people and not
specifically for industry. I believe the county government has an obligation to protect their citizens
,nd stand up to any legislation from any level of government that that jeopardizes the health, safety
Lind well being of their citizenry. Richard Ha holds up Iceland as a geothermal success story, but like
ony guided tour, he was shown what they wanted him to see. All of that energy was primarily for
smelting aluminum, but metal smelting invariably leaves toxic waste behind that industry doesn't want
you to consider, and for the most part, doesn't want to bother with their waste, unless they can collect
it and sell it to the public, in the guise of something they really need. Fluoride in our water and
toothpaste are the prime example. Some European countries have removed the fluoride and many of
their citizens have reported marked improvements in their health.
eothermal energy originates from "deep in the bowels of the earth," as a Geology Professor was
fond of saying, where magma creates intense heat, and if trapped and forced through a network of
tubes, can be used to spin turbines that generate electricity. The geology of an area must be right,
otherwise the extraction of thermal energy won't work without hydraulic fracturing, better known by its
industry name of fracking; however, to avert panic they will call it enhanced geothermal,'same thing
which also contains a proprietary chemical stew that has been known to make water ignite, not
something one wants in their drinking water. Many European nations have banned fracking and
many Americans in numerous states are also trying to have it banned, along with many other
European nations, as among other problems, it tend to make earthquakes worse. With all of the
xploratory drilling that has ever been done in Puna, there is only one site found that does not require
ticking and that is PGV's present location. Nowhere in the State is safe, unless you have very
influential and powerful legislators who don't want industrial waste and fracking in their back yard.
What are the effects of a geothermal facility? It depends upon the geology and your proximity to the
1 Comm. No. g
Ref. To:
Ref. Dote 013
geothermal plant. There is the noise from industry and there are intermittent gas releases, which are
said to have remediation for approximately 94% of the hydrogen sulfide under expected conditions,
meaning if it leaks where it is supposed to leak, whether the system is that efficient, it is not known,
but there are those who smell rotten eggs, meaning a H2S release. It has also been found that when
there is a leak, the plant isn't that forthcoming about mentioning anything about it until after they've
been questioned numerous times. There are other elements, mostly metals in the gas cloud that we
shouldn't be exposed to without protection. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is not vog (S02). It is much
deadlier in lower concentrations.
Those who work at the plant have all of the protective gear they need, as required by OSHA, but
outside of the plant boundary, you are on our own. In the event of an emergency, there are SCBA
(self contained oxygen breathing apparatus) at strategic locations for the crew. The federal EPA is
actually tasked with regulating this industry, but they handed that over to the state Department of
I lealth, who in turn told industry they can regulate themselves. Anybody who believes industry will
regulate themselves will also believe the state DoH will return their calls.
lir>
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