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Geothermal mining lease could be released at Pohoiki, Hawaii

Geothermal mining lease could be released at Pohoiki, Hawaii Puna Geothermal Power Plant, Big Island, Hawaii (source: betterplace.com)
Alexander Richter 27 Apr 2012

The Hawaii state Board of Land and Natural Resources considers the issue of a new geothermal mining lease for a state property at Pohoiki, Hawaii in proximity to the state's only geothermal power plant of Puna Geothermal Venture.

There might be new development in proximity to the site of Hawaii’s only geothermal power plant at Pohoiki.

According to local news the state Board of Land and Natural Resources is expected to consider today to grant a new geothermal mining lease for the state property in Pohoiki where the first producing geothermal well was drilled in the 1970s.

“The experimental HGP-A well went on-line in 1982, generating approximately 3 megawatts, roughly enough to power 1,500 homes.

Originally developed through a private-public partnership under the leadership of the US Department of Energy, in 1986 HGP-A was transferred to the state Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii.

Although it was designed to run for only two years, HGP-A continued producing electricity for eight years.

Rather than extend the geothermal mining lease, the staff of the Department of Land and Natural Resources has recommended cancelling the old lease for the HGP-A site and issuing a new one for 65 years. That will be taken up by the land board when it meets Friday in Honolulu.

Barbour said if the new lease is granted, NELHA plans to put out a request for information from companies interested in using the HGP-A site.”

For the full article and details see link below.

Source: Big Island Now