Public testimony by Jim Albertini in opposition to Puna Geothermal Venture expansion.
Below is my testimony sent on June 7, 2023 in Opposition to PGV, A special mahalo to Palikapu Dedman, Emily Naeole, and all the others who spoke in opposition at the public meeting on June 1, 2023.
Opposition to draft EIS by Puna Geothermal Venture for expansion
June 7, 2023
Our organization founded in 1979, stands in strong opposition to Puna Geothermal Venture’s EIS to expand it’s power generation from 38 to 46 and possibly 60MW of power. We strongly urge that the existing plant be shut down as a cultural desecration to the Native Hawaiians goddess Pele, and a public health hazard due to numerous public releases of H2S deadly gas and other toxins. The EIS fails to address Hawaiian cultural concerns that have been raised for decades about the sacrilegious drilling into Pele, recognized as a Hawaiian deity.
It also fails to address the long history of toxic poisoning of the Puna community by its operation. I specifically recall when PGV first started its EIS stated that a major earthquake could possibly shear off its wells resulting in uncontrolled venting and a permanent evacuation zone of a six-mile diameter. The property value of that six-mile diameter zone was in the hundreds of millions of dollars yet PGVs liability policy was ONLY $20 MILLION. For the county to allow that limited liability was gross negligence and criminal. The county taxpayer would have been left holding the burden of reparations in the event of a PGV uncontrollable well blowouts. I also recall when a well blowout in the 1990s that resulted in an evacuation of surrounding properties for days. Experts brought in advised that the well should be permanently capped and never reopened because it was so badly damaged. But the county gave the go-ahead to reopen the well because PGV needed revenue. The decision clearly put PGV’s financial interest ahead of the Puna people’s health and safety. Disgraceful and Criminal! That damaged well again blew out and had to be permanently capped.
Our organization was involved in protesting the 500 MW geothermal project planned in Wao Kele O Puna rainforest by True Geothermal. Wao Kele O Puna was the last remaining lowland rainforest in Hawaii. That project was stopped because of massive protests, including hundreds of arrests for non-violent protest. Eventually, Pele’s lava cut through that rainforest, and had the 500 MW project been completed as planned with the energy going by undersea cable to Oahu, that entire 500 MW of energy would have likely been cut to Oahu, resulting in a massive energy crisis there. Yet no one from Oahu as far as I know, ever expressed gratitude to those who rightly protested and stopped that ill advised energy project.
We do not trust, and history has shown that our government officials do not act in the best interest of the people when it comes to geothermal energy in Hawaii. Enough! No More Geothermal. No More PGV. No Expansion. Time to shut it down here and now. Respect the Hawaiian culture and the voice of the people.
Jim Albertini,
President of Malu ‘Aina
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Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
cc: government officials and the news media
deadline for submitting public comments is June 20, 2023
