Geothermal funding and siting raise deep community concerns; committee advances exploration funding with limits

The committee heard extended testimony March 19 on Senate Bill 1269, SD1, HD1, a measure to fund geothermal exploration statewide. Supporters including DBEDT and Ulupono Initiative called geothermal a potential low-cost, "firm" renewable resource and urged state investment to reduce discovery risk so private developers can follow with production.

DBEDT said the appropriation would be phased to allow surface exploration, geoscience and community engagement that could identify 4 to 8 sites for further study; the full program to feasibility could require significantly more funding over multiple years. DBEDT representatives said they would not use the requested funds for exploratory or production drilling under the current amendment and that the money would pay for surface exploration, mapping and community engagement.

Opponents and cultural practitioners told the committee exploratory work and eventual development could damage sacred places and health. Testimony from community groups and the Pele Defense Fund warned of long-standing resistance in areas such as Puna, pointed to historic land- and cultural-rights disputes, and urged environmental impact statements and robust consultation. Tara Rohart and representatives of community networks urged lawmakers not to "desecrate" places associated with Pele and to prioritize community health and cultural preservation.

Committee members pressed DBEDT on practical issues: where potential sites lie relative to residences, whether identified sites would be near communities, whether any sites had been preliminarily identified, and how data and reports would be shared. DBEDT said prior studies had identified several potential sites statewide and that the proposed appropriation would fund surface-level work and engagement; subsurface (drilling) work was not funded by this appropriation.

Budget questions surfaced: witnesses and committee members discussed an earlier $3 million appropriation and administrative withholdings. DBEDT confirmed the original $6 million appropriation had been reduced; standard administrative restrictions (including a typical 10% across-the-board restriction) and an administrative fee for Hawai'i Technology Development Corp. reduced available project funds. The department said it would seek release of funds through Budget and Finance.

After debate the committee approved an amended position: to note a $3 million-per-year appropriation in the report and to add language that would require a geographic radius restriction around residential areas for any potential geothermal sites; the chair said she would work with the next committee chair on the specific radius language.

Ending: The committee advanced the bill with amendments limiting uses to surface exploration and community engagement, including a report appropriation figure and a direction to add a residential-radius siting restriction to minimize community impacts.