Puna Geothermal Venture to host community meeting, which will include water quality study update

Puna Geothermal Venture, which has been producing electricity from geothermal resources since 1993 on the Big Island, will host a community meeting at 4 p.m. April 30.

The quarterly update will be conducted at the Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, located at 15-2906 Pāhoa Village Road in Pāhoa.

“Community outreach is important to us, and we want to ensure that everyone is up to date on the latest developments regarding the plant,” said Michael Kaleikini, senior director of Hawai‘i Affairs for Puna Geothermal parent company Ormat Technologies. “We’re looking forward to our upcoming quarterly community meeting.”

In addition to plant updates, Puna Geothermal will also discuss a collaboration with Hawai‘i County Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz of Puna and community members to conduct a water quality study in lower Puna.

The council, during its March 20 meeting, adopted Resolution 443, which allocates $428,000 from the county’s Geothermal Relocation and Community Benefits Fund to conduct the study to research potential effects geothermal energy production could have on potable water sources and the near-ocean environment in lower Puna.

The measure was introduced by Kierkiewicz. It was approved by a vote of 8-0, with Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy absent at the time of the vote.

In addition to participating in the plant’s quarterly meetings, residents with questions or concerns can call Puna Geothermal’s response line at 808-369-9094.

The public also can submit questions for the meeting in advance online.