Geothermal energy development in Hawaii : a decade of conflict

Abstract

"Hawaii is blessed with abundant alternate energy sources and yet is precariously dependant on imported oil for generating electricity. Government officials see geothermal energy as one of the critical solutions to Hawaii's energy dilemma for strategic and economic reasons. Developers view the situation as an opportunity for investment and profit and for service to the people of Hawaii. Local residents and environmentalists are concerned, however, about the lack of regulatory rules, uncertainty of the ultimate end use of the energy, the wisdom of developing a submarine cable to transport the power to Oahu, the effect on native Hawaiian religious practices, and a lack of involvement in planning and decision-making, among other aspects., Subsequently, geothermal development on the Big Island of Hawaii has been the center of conflict for over a decade. Mediators have suggested or initiated various attempts to resolve geothermal-related conflicts with mixed success but the major dispute continues unresolved."