(ABOVE) Video from Thursday night’s Puna Geothermal Venture community meeting in Pahoa by David Corrigan

PAHOA, Hawaii – Upcoming plans to commence drilling operations at Puna Geothermal Venture in Pohoiki were the subject of a community meeting organized by the power producers on Thursday. About 50 area residents showed up at the Pahoa Community Center to participate in the question and answer session with PGV representative Mike Kaleikini.

Puna Geothermal Venture’s plan to drill – possibly 24 hours a day – has raised community concerns. A few years ago, the Hawaii County Council voted to ban nighttime drilling at geothermal production wells because of the loud noise and quality of life impacts to surrounding neighbors. However, PGV believes the ban does not apply to their drilling permits. A number of residents disagree and say PGV should follow the law.

The meeting was rescheduled from an earlier date when the arrest of an attendee disrupted the event. This time around, things remained civil, although there were some tense exchanges between Kaleikini and residents opposed to the facility.