There are so many things we can do in Hawaii that make more sense than geothermal, for anyone who cares to look at the issue seriously, that becomes very clear.
We could turn power plants off by simply installing solar water heaters, this makes much more sense, and is far safer and cheaper than drilling geothermal wells or building power plants.
This geothermal expansion is about keeping HELCO and corporate profits at record levels it’s about keeping HELCO’s monopoly of centralized power. Support it if want but at least understand what you support.
More than one third of Hawai`i residential energy use heats water.
Click the link and look at the picture. 39% of residential electric use is to heat water. That is their figure. It makes no sense to build these power plants when we can turn off power plants right now by simply coming up with a plan to get solar water heaters to people that do not have them.
Anyone who argues it’s necessary, better, quicker, cheaper, greener, or safer to drill geothermal wells and build power plants is mistaken.
They don’t do it because this whole geothermal push is designed to sell more power not less. That is the American corporate model, that is what makes HELCO, ORMAT, and the politicians the big bucks. More, more, more.
Selling less power and turning off power plants would be better for Hawaii, and the planet. It would be greener, reduce the oil we burn, not threaten anyone or the environment but it would hurt the electric monopoly profits, (remember highest rates in the country right here).
That is what this is really about. Money, it almost always is. Sorry to pop the geothermal bubbles but it’s about money, not what is best for you or Hawaii, it’s what is best for those that want to get very rich off of you.
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If the state or the people screaming we have to get off oil would spend 10% as much time promoting solar water heaters we could reduce our electrical use by 20% in 6 months, far faster than drilling dangerous, toxic geothermal wells or building expensive power plants. Then we could work on the other 19%.
Solar works and it’s the future, but it is the death of HELCO, HEI, and the rest of the power monopoly.
They do not do it because the more power they sell you the more money everyone at the top makes. People and the government need to understand this, it is not our job to make HELCO or anyone else rich, if they can’t make it on their own to bad.
But it’s not only solar water heaters, we have many other alternatives to geothermal that work, are cost effective and available now. The solar water heaters just are the easiest way to prove that quickly. Watch them avoid that issue and change the subject. Geothermal is a dangerous, destructive money making scam that will ruin lower Puna so a few people can get very rich. I have a problem with that.
Lower Puna should not be destroyed based on lies. The proponents, the state, developers, and HELCO want us to believe it is cheaper, cleaner, safer, or easier to drill wells and build power plants than it is to have a program that will install solar water heaters. That is simply not true and it’s easy to prove once people start to listen and ask questions. That has started now, geothermal can not stand on it’s merits, that is why people resort to name calling, etc. It’s all they really have in the end.
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Here is the future and geothermal is not part of it in Hawaii. After we reduce use with conservation and solar water heaters then we follow the leaders in future technology.
Why didn’t the mayor or geothermal working group go to UCSD and see what they are doing? They produce 42 megawatts. That is more than PGV and they act like it doesn’t exist or doesn’t work.
We are going to bring these people to Hawaii again. We brought Amery Lovins here once already 20 years ago. This could have been us but the state would not even talk to them because they want centralized power based on geothermal, for no other reason than it will make a small group of people very rich at our expense.
In today’s economy we can no longer afford business as usual, it’s time to start doing what is best for everyone not just the corporations and privileged few.
Geothermal is a mistake we can not afford to make.
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