US Geological Survey addressing concerns on geothermal in Hawaii

A public meeting between Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) and the local community will be held Friday night to address lingering issues and concerns about the operations of the Puna geothermal power plant and its effects on the surrounding environment.

The operations of the PGV were shut down during the 2018 eruption of the Kilauea Volcano on the lower East Rift Zone. Now that the volcanic unrest has ended, PGV-parent company Ormat has taken steps to revive the power plant.However, the move has met public opposition amongst the Puna population, with some even wondering if the geothermal operations had something to do with the 2018 eruption.

Previously, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has responded to the letter of a concerned citizen and reiterated how Puna geothermal operations were unlikely to have had any influence on the activity of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

According to a media advisory, “PGV officials will update the community on the status of the geothermal facility and ability for residents to use the pioneer road near the intersection of Highway 132 and Pohoiki Road that PGV cleared to restore access to its lava-locked site. Representatives from Hawaii Electric Light Co. (HELCO) and the Country of Hawaii will also provide updates.”

Source: Big Island Video News