HILO, Hawaii – On Wednesday (Feb. 4) former Mayor Harry Kim testified on two Hawaii County Council resolutions dealing with a previously imposed ban on nighttime drilling for geothermal resources. Kim offered a historical perspective on geothermal development and the law in Hawaii County.

Resolution 58-15 requests Puna Geothermal Venture, located in Pohoiki, to comply with the 2012 ordinance, and restrict their drilling operations at production well KS-16 to the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also, resolution 59-15, asks the county’s Corporation Counsel to step in to re-examine the issue, and take the company to court over the matter, if the 2012 law is applicable.

The measures were both introduced by Puna Councilmember Greggor Ilagan, but failed to gain traction at the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday.