Geothermal Proposal

Ormat  Technologies Inc.'s  Project  Summary: 
Ormat Technologies Inc. (“Ormat”) is applying to the Hawai‘i State Board of Land and Natural Resources) for
   (1) a geothermal mining lease of reserved lands occupied by Ulupalakua Ranch, Inc.;
   (2) a geothermal mining lease of State lands adjacent to Ulupalakua Ranch, and;
   (3) expansion of the Geothermal Resource Subzone (GRS) that currently includes part of the reserved lands and State lands.
       All subject parcels are occupied by Ulupalakua Ranch and used for grazing and related ranch activities, including the 800-acre State parcel. Ormat has agreements with Ulupalakua Ranch to conduct geothermal development activities on parts of the reserved lands and has received assignment of Ulupalakua Ranch’s right to obtain a mining lease of the reserved lands. Certain areas of Ulupalakua Ranch and State lands would be “no surface occupancy” areas where no geothermal development activities would be conducted on the land’s surface.
       The EIS will provide an overview of the benefits and adverse impacts of geothermal development here to nearby communities and the island of Maui. Exploratory studies indicate there may be a commercially useable geothermal resource. If the State mining leases are obtained and the GRS is expanded, Ormat may seek permits/ approvals to conduct exploratory drilling and determine the number and location(s) of exploratory wells, preparing follow-up Chapter 343 documents to disclose environmental impacts related to the wells. If testing leads to discovery of a commercially useable geothermal resource, Ormat would determine the feasibility of constructing a plant to generate electricity and selling the electricity to an off-taker such as Maui Electric Company. Ormat would select a geothermal plant location that maximizes the efficiency of the operation and minimizes adverse impacts, preparing follow-up Chapter 343 documents to disclose environmental impacts related to construction and operation of the plant.

Other Related Content

Ormat proposed in February 2012 to explore for a geothermal energy source that would allow the company to develop an electricity production plant on Ulupalakua Ranch. Ormat operates the geothermal plant at Puna on the Big Island. 

Ulupalakua Geothermal EISPN

More information at:
Geothermal Generation at Ulupalakua?
by Karen Chun

Alternative perspectives and concerns about geothermal development can be found at:

Puna Pono Alliance

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