LEILANI ESTATES SUBDIVISION, Hawaii: On the eve of an important veto override vote at the Hawaii County Council, both sides of a “heated” geothermal issue are planning to make a strong showing during the meeting to voice their opinion.
The supporters of the bills that were introduced by council chair Dominic Yagong – and vetoed by Mayor Billy Kenoi – have been well documented.
For the past few months, they have flooded the council chamber with testimony in opposition to the growth of the geothermal industry, and supporting two bills – Bill 256, a substantial revision to the geothermal relocation and community benefits program… It would prohibit the resale of homes acquired by the county through the relocation program, in order to create a buffer between the geothermal plant and residential properties. The buffer zone consists of a circle, one mile in radius.
Another bill mandating the county Civil Defense Agency prepare an emergency response and evacuation plan for the area surrounding the Puna Geothermal Venture plant.
The bills passed the council – after hours of testimony in support – only to get the boot from the mayor.
An override attempt was on the agenda two weeks ago, but the vote was set aside because Puna councilman Fred Blas was not present to cast his vote. Blas has opposed the bills in the past.
Now, the council again plans to attempt a veto override on Wednesday.
But today, we focus on the other side of the argument… a newly organized group in Leilani Estates says Bill 256 goes too far.
On Monday, Big Island Video News met with the residents at the Leilani Community Association building, where Loren Avedon showed us how the one mile radius envelopes a large chunk of the private subdivision he calls home.
Petra Wiesenbauer lives within that one mile circle. She says that there are are no health fears because of the geothermal plant, but she did say she would welcome a health study instead of the creation of a buffer zone.
They say the results of the bill could be an economic disaster for Leilani Estates.
Recently, Richard Ha, officials with PGV, and other supporters of geothermal power met with the community in this very same building. There was a large turnout, and many residents signed a petition in opposition to the Bill 256 veto override… there is another petition online here.
Which sets up a philosophical showdown for Wednesday… Members of the Pele Defense Fund and other organizations staunchly opposed to how geothermal has been done in Puna so far have vowed to picket outside the county building as well as the state health office nearby.
One thing is for sure… its going to be a long day at the council on Wednesday.
Hmmm, I actually trust my dogs to alert me as to whether there’s a good or bad person at the door.
The facts are that geothermal development in the Lanipuna gardens area has subjected residents to decades worth of health hazards. The radioactivity of gases discharged during well blowouts, kicks, and leaks is substantial. This is not the sort of radioactivity one would receive in an x-ray, it is in the form of particles that imbed into lung tissue and continue bombarding the body with ionizing radiation and heavy metals (the products of radioactive decay), thereby causing cancer and other illnesses which may not show up for 10-20-30 years after exposure. The levels of radioactivity in the well gases, as well as other toxic substances, are a matter of public record and are available to inspection by any member of the public wishing to inform themselves. The collateral damage is a calculated cost of doing business for this corporation.
To be clear, bill 256 sets in statue the formula for valuation of properties eligible for relocation and at 130% of valuation, actually supports property values rather than diminish them, As things currently stand, it is up to an administrator to negotiate a price. Bill 256 would establish 130% of assessed value as the basis for payment. This is a uniform method not subject to administrative whims or the pressures generated by availability of funds. The bill does not change which properties are eligible for relocation purchase.
This bill also makes the commonsense distinction that properties subject to relocation should not be reinhabited. The fund manager may sell for salvage the improvements remaining on the property in order to prevent blight etc.
Relocation remains voluntary.
The real issue is why was a dangerous neighbor (geothermal energy) allowed into such close proximity of residential neighborhoods with difficult evacuation issues (due to few roads out of the area) in the first place.
Ike, clearly you don’t understand that my concern for Puna is absolute, and what is needed is not some radical legislation but rather scientific study. In the discourse with Mike I used his words to deal with him on his level. The punk comment was his word to me, clearly disrespectful. My credentials are not needed, I am speaking about a bill and the mayors veto. I don’t claim to be an expert, and never did. He called us out, I simply responded on his level and responded to his rudeness as I am responding to yours. Who is respected in the HAWAIIAN community is not the issue, the issue is what is best for Hawaii. Perhaps you didn’t read the comments he made to me personally, he was talking trash. My only mistake was to take the bait, and lower myself to his level and yours. Trashy is being disrespectful to your elders regardless of race, and from the beginning he was, and your opinion and language is clearly biased. I just gave him a dose of his own medicine, using his tone, his words. If you can’t take the heat, don’t start the fire.
Oh and Lance, I trust my dogs too… they do let me know when someone is at the door. Glad yours can tell good from bad.
Aloha Mai
Well said Lance… well said. Thanks for getting the conversation back on track.
Much Mahlos
Wow… now I see that all MIke’s comments he deleted leaving only mine. Had you seen his comments you would see that he obviously set me up to reply to his comments then deleted them. Wow… a master manipulator. No wonder you think I’m a meany. I would too, since you don’t see his comments any more and how rude he was.
Well played Mike… next time I’ll just ignore all of the comments.
Anyone having an opinion on this issue and wants to be taken seriously and have that opinion legally documented, should have to submit to a drug test. You fail a drug test, we don’t want your opinion. This would include the thousands, who now, all of a sudden, find themselves dependent on medical marijuana.
I would be more interested in conducting breathalizer tests at each participant.
What if PGV and its parent companies shared revenues? Just like they do in Alaska with Oil!