With Oil approaching $100 per barrel does Hawaii have to think differently?

Community opposition to expand geothermal energy has once again divided the Big Island . A recent community outreach effort by the University of Hawaii has lead to anger at public meetings where geothermal energy was discussed. https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/08/hawaiis-high-priced-geothermal-consultants-are-getting-heat/

For many people the very thought of geothermal energy makes them angry. “Stop pushing geothermal” wrote a recent visitor to our website. Our purpose is not to jpush geothermal but s to inform the public of the pluses and minuses of different renewable energy options. But is the answer to just continue burning fossil fuel?

Inexpensive geothermal energy is a fact of life in places such as the Philippines, New Zealand,  Indonesia, Iceland, Kenya and California In the Philippines, which first began developing geothermal  energy in the 1970’s, entire island communities that once depended on expensive oil to be transshipped in small lots by inter-island barge are now 100% powered by hot steam that comes from the islands themselves. Undersea cables ship excess power to other islands.

This would presently not be possible in Hawaii. So strong is the opposition,  that a recent effort to obtain funding  from the Hawaii State Legislature to furtther explore the geothermal power in the Kilauea’s East Rift Zone  (KERZ) went nowhere;  despite months of carefully preparation by UH geologists and communication experts. Faced with this opposition, state energy experts are once again publicly considering nuclear power - which is banned by the Hawaii State Constituion. Others believe that some combination of the two is an answer. - https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/08/hawaii-needs-nuclear-geothermal-power-meet-renewables-mandate/. In addiion, there is interest in natural gas.

Problems with war in the middle east, the after affects of the Maui wildfire, increasing demand from China and new Trump administration policies ending the renewable energy tax credits f - all point to increased costs for energy in Hawaii. I thought it might be interesting to look at the opposition to geothermal on different grounds.

. Help came from geologist of Eric Peterson, founder and managing director of Honua Resources, a geo thermal start-up on the Big Island.

* Why not use large solar fields, wind and batteries to power Hawaii? Haven’t they advanced to the level where they can cover most grid issues?

“Yes, it is true that solar and battery technology has advanced rapidly, and costs have come down significantly—this is one of the best clean energy success stories of the last decade. In many cases, distributed solar-plus-battery systems are already cheaper than utility power in Hawaii, and the price trend is still moving in the right direction. But even as costs drop, there’s a difference between what’s affordable for an individual home or business and what’s needed to reliably power an entire island grid, 24/7, through all conditions. Batteries can typically store hours, sometimes a day’s worth of power, but not several days in a row when the weather turns cloudy or during a major storm. That’s when we need a renewable source that doesn’t depend on the weather—geothermal fills that gap.”

 Are there places on the grid where battery power will not be enough.

“Yes Even with falling battery prices, there will always be sectors that need unbroken, high-capacity power: airports, seaports, water treatment plants, hospitals, and large-scale industry. These critical facilities can’t risk extended outages and can’t rely solely on battery reserves. Geothermal, combined with solar and storage, ensures that we have firm, on-island power that can run continuously. This isn’t about replacing solar—it’s about complementing it so Hawaii can fully eliminate imported oil and still keep the lights on everywhere, all the time. Public investment should reflect that reality: support rooftop and community solar with storage, but also maintain funding for geothermal so that the whole system—residential, commercial, and critical infrastructure—remains clean, resilient, and affordable in the long run.”

 
”Product lifecycle of batteries”

“It’s also important to look at the full lifecycle of any technology. Solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines all require mining, often overseas, and energy-intensive manufacturing—frequently in places like China—before they’re shipped here. At the end of life, disposal or recycling can be challenging. No energy source is completely impact-free, which is why we need to weigh all options based on their total environmental footprint over time.

 People often look at health issues as a problem with geothermal - citing issues connected to emissions that they say came out of the ground. How do you address these issues?

“Geothermal in Hawaii has had challenges in the past, particularly with community trust. Today, equipment can be designed with advanced silencers and enclosed systems that dramatically reduce noise. As for emissions, geothermal plants in Hawaii must meet strict DOH and EPA air quality standards. Hydrogen sulfide, the main gas released, is continuously monitored, and modern plants can capture and reinject nearly all of it back underground—avoiding harm to surrounding communities. The lubricants and drilling fluids used are also regulated and, when reinjected, are done so under EPA Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits to ensure groundwater safety.”

As pointed out, solar and wind are critical to our future, and reducing electricity demand is wise. But for 24/7 clean power, especially during storms or extended cloudy periods, pairing those intermittent sources with firm, on- sland renewables like geothermal is important. The goal isn’t to replace solar and wind—it’s to make sure all renewable sources work together for both affordability and resilience.”dss

Conclusion

Peterson said there are social benefits as well as geothermal “can help lower-income residents by reducing energy costs, creating good local jobs, and generating tax revenue that can be reinvested in housing, schools, and infrastructure.”