The Heat Beneath the Surface: Renewed Backlash Against Puna Geothermal Venture in 2025
- wearepuna
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
As the volcanic landscapes of Puna, Hawaii, continue to simmer with both natural and human-made tensions, Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) remains at the epicenter of a long-standing controversy. For decades, this geothermal power plant has been a flashpoint for debates over energy independence, environmental safety, and cultural reverence. But in 2025, with Hawaii pushing toward 100% renewable energy by 2035, the stakes have never been higher. Recent news highlights a surge in community opposition as PGV advances its "Repower Project," an upgrade aimed at boosting output but reigniting fears of health risks, cultural desecration, and ecological harm. Drawing from the latest reports, let's unpack the developments and why the people of Puna—and beyond—are pushing back harder than ever.
The Repower Project: Promises of Power vs. Persistent Perils
PGV, operational since 1993 and the state's only geothermal facility, was thrust back into the spotlight this August when it received approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to proceed with its long-awaited upgrades. The project involves replacing 12 aging generating units—some over 30 years old—with just three larger ones, increasing capacity from 38 megawatts to 46 megawatts. Proponents, including PGV's parent company Ormat Technologies, tout the changes as a win for Hawaii Island: lower electricity costs, reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels, and a smaller physical footprint with fewer pipes to minimize leaks. The upgrades are slated for completion by late 2026, with a brief five-week shutdown during the transition, and PGV has already begun site preparation like grading and grubbing, without any permits.
Yet, these "advancements" have met fierce resistance. At a packed community meeting in Pahoa on August 28, 2025, residents vented deep-seated concerns about safety and environmental toxins. The gathering, hosted by PGV to discuss the project, turned into a forum for frustration, with attendees citing historical trauma from past incidents like the 2018 Kīlauea eruption that isolated the plant and raised questions about its resilience. One resident, Kanoe Case, captured the emotional toll: “There is trauma that is incurred from all of this.” Jasmine Steiner echoed the sentiment, declaring, “Money isn’t sh*t when it comes to desecration of our health, our children.” Others, like Rich Oberteitner, worried about accidents involving "environmental toxins that are dangerous," while Millecent Cummings accused PGV of shirking responsibility by deflecting to regulators: “It’s your kuleana. There is no way to get around that fact.”
PGV representatives, including Michael Kaleikini, senior director for Hawaii affairs at Ormat, and voting member of DHHL, attempted to reassure the crowd by emphasizing legal transparency requirements and third-party monitoring by agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state health department. Kaleikini denied reports of loud noises from the plant and affirmed accountability: “If it’s shown that the origination of all of that what you mentioned is from PGV, we are accountable.” (yeah, right. The community feels like he only said what they wanted to hear for the new people in the crowd) . Despite these assurances, skepticism lingers, fueled by the plant's three production and injection wells—some of which have been idle since 2018 and may now be repurposed for monitoring or abandoned.
This backlash isn't isolated; it's part of a broader narrative in recent coverage. A comprehensive August 2025 feature in *Ka Wai Ola* explores geothermal energy as both a potential "solution" for energy sovereignty and a "sacrilege" against Native Hawaiian values, highlighting PGV's role in generating 19.1% of Hawaii Island's electricity in 2024 while facing ongoing protests. The article notes the plant's upgrades as a step toward efficiency but underscores the cultural rift, with opponents viewing drilling into the earth as a direct affront to Pele, the volcano goddess.
Legal Battles and Lingering Environmental Fears
The community's outcry is backed by action in the courts. In April 2024, vocal activist Sara Steiner filed a lawsuit challenging the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Repower Project, arguing it was incomplete and failed to address her detailed comments on health, environmental, and cultural harms. Joined by declarations from figures like Robert Petricci, former president of the Puna Pono Alliance, the suit accuses PGV and the County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department of inadequate disclosure, including risks from hydrogen sulfide gas, induced seismicity on an active volcano, and unmonitored impacts over the next 35 years. Steiner seeks a permanent injunction against further expansion, claiming the EIS process prioritized financial royalties over public well-being.
Legal challenges continue into 2025. In July, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court rejected a writ of certiorari in *Kon v. State*, a case tied to PGV disputes over environmental impacts and water rights, signaling ongoing scrutiny. Meanwhile, a federal study on PGV's groundwater effects, funded at nearly $500,000, began in May 2024, addressing long-standing worries about contamination in Puna's water supply. These efforts reflect a pattern of opposition dating back to the 1970s, including the landmark 1992 *Pele Defense Fund v. Paty* victory, which affirmed protections for Native Hawaiian practices.
Culturally, the resistance runs deep. As detailed in the recent *Ka Wai Ola* piece, Native Hawaiians like community organizer Terri Napeahi argue that geothermal desecrates sacred wahi kapu and disrupts Pele's natural cycles, compromising identity for profit. Retired UH professor Dr. Davianna McGregor warns of spiritual and environmental risks, while retired park ranger Bobby Camara questions the technology's reliability on volatile volcanic terrain. Even as supporters like attorney Mililani Trask advocate for "Native-to-Native" frameworks through groups like Waikā Consulting to ensure benefits for Indigenous communities, opponents see no compromise when it comes to the 'āina (land).
A Call for Truth and Action
The 2025 developments paint a picture of a community caught between the promise of clean energy and the peril of unchecked expansion. While PGV pushes forward with upgrades amid Governor Josh Green's renewable mandate, the voices from Puna demand accountability, transparency, and respect for their health, culture, and environment. Historical opposition, amplified by recent meetings and legal fights, shows that the backlash is far from over—it's evolving.
To dive deeper into these issues and hear directly from those on the front lines, we invite you to join us at our **Second Truth for the People HI Geothermal Forum** in Kona, Hawaii. This informational community meeting will feature insightful discussions with Terri Napeahi, Sara Steiner-Jackson, Larry Wood, and Robert Perticci, exploring the facts, impacts, and paths forward.
When: September 27, 2025, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: West Hawaii Civic Center, G-Building,
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Contact: tnapeahi@yahoo.com for more details
Your presence is crucial—together, we can amplify the Truth for the people of Hawaii. See you there!
aloha always,
KahuPuna
LERZ Puna News Blog
Aloha Activism
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