HONOLULU – The public is invited to a Geothermal Summit that will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will take place at the Hawaii National Guard Training Center Auditorium and Dining Center, located in Bellows Air Force Station.
Three geothermal companies will be participating in the Summit, which is being coordinated and hosted by Sen. Pohai Ryan, who represents District 25, encompassing Hawaii Kai, Waimanalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai and Kailua.
“The decision to organize the summit was prompted by my constituents who wanted to learn more about geothermal energy and its role in Hawaii’s future,” said Senator Ryan. “It will be an excellent opportunity for people to gain insight on how it would impact their families and their livelihood.”
“It’s time we start looking into sources of renewable energy, such as geothermal,” she added.
Along with the geothermal companies presenting, Scott Seu, Vice President of Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), will be talking about HECO’s energy initiatives; Richard Ha, a Big Island farmer/businessman and Ku‘oko‘a board chairman will do the opening remarks and Sen. Mike Gabbard, Senate Committee on Energy and Environment Chair will provide the closing remarks.
Geothermal companies presenting:
Mililani Trask, Innovations Development Group: Established in 1998, is a strategic planning and development company that conducts business in a socially responsible, globally green manner that is respectful of Native cultures. The company has earned a solid reputation for planning and building highly collaborative projects that span the globe, but with an emphasis across the Asia-Pacific region, from Hawai’i to New Zealand. IDG incorporates a development blueprint that promotes Native-to-Native relationships within the context of a traditional-practice business model. http://idghawaii.com/?page_id=11
Ted Peck, Ku‘oko‘a: The company has a plan to free Hawaii’s economy from fossil fuel within a decade by using renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, wind, solar, biofuels, and ocean thermal conversion. http://kuokoa.com/pages/the-kuokoa-plan
Mike Kaleikini, Puna Geothermal Venture: A partnership between two mainland power companies, received a permit to produce renewable geothermal energy at a site in Puna in the East Rift Zone in 1990. The facility went online in 1993. Under a Power Purchase Agreement with Hawaii Electric Light Company, it delivers 25-30 megawatts of firm renewable energy on a continuous basis. The facility could provide much more. http://www.punageothermalventure.com/
Informational exhibits by the presenting geothermal companies will be available for the public to view.
Posted by Hawaii Senate Majority Caucus
