������Ƶ

Remember that old proverb about a lie traveling halfway around the world before truth can even put on her boots?

Well, I am the CEO of Innovations Development Group, a Native Hawaiian company already engaged in geothermal development in New Zealand, that wants to help move Hawaii away from fossil fuels. I think I have an obligation to help truth finish putting on her boots and get the facts about geothermal out in front of the public. It’s not as if this has not been done before. I have led dozens of community meetings on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island. I can attest to the community’s interest in having an alternative to imported oil.

Who after all wants to pay the highest prices in the nation for electricity? IDG supports the goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030 with 30 percent from efficiency measures, and 40 percent coming from locally generated renewable sources. IDG supports getting our renewable energy from a mix that includes solar, wind and wave.

But we won’t get where we want to be without geothermal because the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. The only source of renewable energy we can count on for sure and for years to come is geothermal — making it the only local, sustainable, uninterrupted i.e. firm power option to oil or imported liquid natural gas.

But misinformation has sometimes drowned out the more measured voices urging responsible geothermal development.

I have heard the dissenters talk over the voices of reason. A November article in devotes a lot of ink to the perceived perils of geothermal development including the view that it is a “rape” of the land. The article also revisits the 1991 pipe rupture that necessitated the evacuation of residents. Mature energy environments like New Zealand embrace geothermal as a viable and critical resource to their energy portfolio. Geothermal is considered a “no brainer” by energy experts.

IDG’s Development Model

What is not even mentioned is the very salient fact that several of those who were involved in protesting that incident are the ones who have come up with a “native-to-native” model for geothermal development that addresses community concerns. Esq., Principal of Indigenous Consultants Inc., is an advisor to IDG. She lives on Hawaii island and like many on the IDG team, has family and friends on Hawaii whose health and safety neither she, nor we, would dream of jeopardizing.

She herself has said: “As a Hawaiian who has been arrested protecting cultural rights and burials, I am proud of the effort that went into the Pele cases, and proud to have been a part of the legal effort to advance and expand our cultural rights to worship. Its time we use these wins to ensure that culture is respected and protected when renewable energy is developed for Hawaii Island.”

It bears repeating that by law, mineral rights in Hawaii are owned jointly by Native Hawaiians and the public at large. IDG’s model for geothermal development emphasizes protections for cultural assets, equitable sharing of the proceeds from development of resources with the community, multiplier benefits to ancillary businesses and aid to promote jobs and foster a better life for all.

Unlike the typical pure profit-maximization model, IDG’s native-to-native model makes the community the centerpiece of its approach. That commitment is a public one attested to by the incorporation of Huena Power, the development arm of IDG as a Sustainable Business Corporation dedicated to the triple bottom line: people, planet and profits.

The New Zealand Experience: No Adverse Effects

The native-to-native model is used by IDG in New Zealand. Sandra Eru, General Manager of the Maori organization with whom IDG is working, has noted that visitors to New Zealand “will see sheep grazing right next to where steam escapes from one of our geothermal wells. . . Certainly they appear as healthy as they have ever been. . . we are vigilant about monitoring air quality and emissions and have procedures in place to communicate and act promptly if the need should arise. We have had no safety incidents since we began operations.”

Also missing from the story in Hawaii Business is any reference to the assurances provided by Dr. Sadiq Zarrouk. His credentials as someone steeped in both research and industry experience, who has studied Hawaii’s geothermal resources should surely matter. Dr. Zarrouk, a consultant to IDG, has pointed out that “Fracking is not normally used/applied in conventional geothermal, which is the case for geothermal power development in New Zealand, Hawaii and another 22 countries around the world.”

Some dissenters have questioned the opposition to County Bill 129 which banned fracking. They have mistakenly concluded that opposition to the bill is indicative of some future plan to use fracking. In Dr. Zarrouk’s opinion, the bill was poorly researched and written. It vests an inordinate amount of authority in a county administrator without the training to be able to make the decisions he or she is empowered to make. That is not good for the community or for business.

Kumu Hula, Cy Bridges, a member of the IDG management team, has previously observed: “In the real world in which we operate. . . there is only one Native Hawaiian company that has demonstrated that it knows our painful history with geothermal and understands the lessons to be learned from it.” He was referring, of course, to IDG.

There is probably nothing more critical to our future than becoming energy independent. We cannot afford to waste any more time rehashing the scare-mongering of the few. We have the experience and the cultural credentials to get moving on geothermal. So, we need to ask with greater urgency than before: “If not now, when?”

About the author: Patricia K. Brandt is the CEO and a Director with Innovations Development Group. She has previously served as Chief of Staff to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ (OHA) chairman of the board. A 25-year veteran of Hawaii State government, Pat has served in advisory capacities in the administrations of two Hawaii governors, John Waihee III and George Ariyoshi.

Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Columns generally run about 800 words (yes, they can be shorter or longer) and we need a photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.com.