Puna residents will be able to provide in-person feedback next week regarding a planned upgrade of Puna Geothermal Venture.
PGV’s proposed “repower” project, outlined in an environmental impact statement released earlier this month, would boost the facility’s energy production from a maximum of 38 megawatts to 46 megawatts daily by replacing its current aging equipment with newer machinery.
The project will not expand the facility’s boundaries and will decrease the amount of equipment on-site by replacing 12 energy converters with three more efficient converters. The impact statement anticipated that it will not cause “unavoidable adverse environmental impacts.”
The full replacement is estimated to take two years to complete, with construction possibly beginning before the end of this year, if final environmental reviews are completed in a timely manner.
“With the project, we will be able to produce clean energy more efficiently for Hawaii Island. Geothermal is a firm source of renewable energy and is a key part of meeting the state’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2045,” Mike Kaleikini, PGV’s senior director, Hawaii affairs, said in a statement.
A possible second phase of the project, which would further boost the facility’s maximum energy production to 60 megawatts using a fourth converter, has no estimate for completion but was also included in the impact statement.
As part of a public comment period that lasts until June 22, PGV will host an open house and informational meeting on Thursday, June 1, at the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility.
The three-hour event will allow members of the public to ask questions and make comments about the project, which will be incorporated into a final environmental impact statement.
The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the open house, with oral comments to be accepted beginning 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Residents also can submit written comments via email to michele.lefebvre@stantecgs.com and to planning@hawaiicounty.gov, or mailed to Michele Lefebvre, P.O. Box 191, Hilo, HI, 96721 and County of Hawaii Planning Department, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3, Hilo, HI 96720.
The draft environmental impact statement can be read at tinyurl.com/mvbd5fkm.
