Implementation Plan for the Hawaii Geothermal Project Environmental Impact Statement (DOE Review Draft:)

Technical Report · Fri Sep 18 00:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/882440· OSTI ID:882440

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that identifies and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the proposed Hawaii Geothermal Project (HGP), as defined by the State of Hawaii in its 1990 proposal to Congress (DBED 1990). The location of the proposed project is shown in Figure 1.1. The EIS is being prepared pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as implemented by the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and the DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR 1021), effective May 26, 1992. The State's proposal for the four-phase HGP consists of (1) exploration and testing of the geothermal resource beneath the slopes of the active Kilauea volcano on the Island of Hawaii (Big Island), (2) demonstration of deep-water power cable technology in the Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Mau, (3) verification and characterization of the geothermal resource on the Big Island, and (4) construction and operation of commercial geothermal power production facilities on the Big Island, with overland and submarine transmission of electricity from the Big Island to Oahu and possibly other islands. DOE prepared appropriate NEPA documentation for separate federal actions related to Phase 1 and 2 research projects, which have been completed. This EIS will consider Phases 3 and 4, as well as reasonable alternatives to the HGP. Such alternatives include biomass coal, solar photovoltaic, wind energy, and construction and operation of commercial geothermal power production facilities on the Island of Hawaii (for exclusive use on the Big Island). In addition, the EIs will consider the reasonable alternatives among submarine cable technologies, geothermal extraction, production, and power generating technologies; pollution control technologies; overland and submarine power transmission routes; sites reasonably suited to support project facilities in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner; and non-power generating alternatives, such as conservation and demand-side management.

• Research Organization: U.S. Department of Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 882440
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
BIOMASS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
HAWAII
IMPLEMENTATION
KILAUEA VOLCANO
POLLUTION CONTROL
POWER GENERATION
POWER TRANSMISSION
US CEQ
US NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
Geothermal Legacy