Professor Floyd McCoy on the Mauna Loa Eruption

USGS Diagram describing the current state of Mauna Loa Volcano as December 1 2022

Dr. Floyd McCoy recently retired as a senior professor of geology and volcanoes at the University of Hawaii. This is his take on the recent eruption at Mauna Loa

What does the Mauna Loa Eruption tell us about the power of volcanoes in Hawaii?

It tells us the power is immense, uncontrollable and needs to be tapped

( During the 1970s and 1980’s a study indicated that the volcanoes on Hawaii

Produce 1000 MW per day – enough to power all of Hawaii)

How could we harness the power of Mauna Loa?

We can harness it through geo-thermal energy but lets wait until this eruption finishes.

Would we always have to worry about the volcano overflowing and damaging the plant?

Yes just as we worry about Hilo

What is the your earliest memory of a volcanic eruption?

1942. Mauna Loa. I saw it from Honoka’a where we lived then.

In Hawaii we have been responding to volcanic eruptions for the last 100 years.

How does the cost of harnessing geo thermal compare to other forms of available

Energy?

The cost is irrelevant. We just have to do it.