A bill preventing counties from passing laws regulating geothermal operations will go to the Senate floor for a vote. ADVERTISING A bill preventing counties from passing laws regulating geothermal operations will go to the Senate floor for a vote. The
A bill preventing counties from passing laws regulating geothermal operations will go to the Senate floor for a vote.
The legislation cleared its last Senate committee Thursday with Ways and Means voting in favor.
SB 2535 says regulation of “geothermal resources development and geothermal resources exploration” are reserved to the state unless delegated to the counties.
Introduced by Sen. Lorriane Inouye, the bill is expected to nullify Hawaii County’s ban on nighttime drilling operations.
Puna Geothermal Venture, the only geothermal plant in the state, is being sued for ignoring the law when it drilled another well last year. The plant says stopping drilling during certain stages would create safety issues and that its geothermal resources permit overrides the law.
Inouye said PGV requested the bill. She said she agrees the state is the proper authority for geothermal regulations.
Opponents of the bill, such as Sen. Russell Ruderman, say counties are best able to respond to community concerns.
