University of Hawaii cancels planned geothermal exploration work at Hualalai
Hualalai Mountain as seen from Kekaha Kai Beach, Kona, HI (source: flickr/ troy mckaskle, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
24 Şub 2016
With funding issues, loss of keys staff and likely also local opposition, the University of Hawaii is withdrawing from planned exploration work at Hualalai in Hawaii.
Announced before the weekend, the University of Hawaii has announced that it is withdrawing from planned geothermal exploration work at Hualalai in Hawaii.
Apart from a possible lawsuit by opponents to the project, funding a loss of key staff seem to the be the key reason for the decision. The University has now requested “that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources cancel an exploration permit issued to the university last March. Additionally, researchers are asking BLNR to rescind another permit the board approved for the exploration, according to a request submitted by state Department of Land and Natural Resources Chief Engineer Carty Chang.”, so local news.
DLNR contracted UH in June 2014 to continue magnetotulluric and gravity surveys on the Hualalai West Rift Zone. The BLNR approved two exploration permits, one in March 2015 and another in June, although the second permit has not been issued because of documentation issues.
The survey, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and state DLNR, would have taken place on 19 parcels on agricultural land. But UH has been unable to progress past the permitting stage and future funding is questionable, according the Chang’s submittal to the land board.
Source: Hawaii Tribune
