Big Island geothermal celebrates 15 years
HAWAII - Puna Geothermal Venture marked 15 years in business recently.
The company taps the might of Kilauea volcano to generate electricity, providing nearly one-fifth of the Big Island's power.
PGV is looking to increase production by eight megawatts of power. That would up the company's total capacity to 41 megawatts.
Lieutenant Governor James "Duke" Aiona says geothermal production fits with Hawaii's clean energy initiative. It calls for the state to knock down its fossil fuel consumption to 30 percent.
PGV's plant sells 30 megawatts of renewable energy to Hawaii Electric Light Company on a continuous basis. That provides nearly 20 percent of the Big Island's electricity needs.
Related News
How utilities are using AI to adapt to electricity demands
WASHINGTON - The spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has prompted state and local governments around the U.S. to institute shelter-in-place orders and business closures. As millions suddenly find themselves confined to their homes, the shift has strained not only internet service providers, streaming platforms, and online retailers, but the utilities supplying power to the nation’s electrical grid, as well.
U.S. electricity use on March 27, 2020 was 3% lower than it was on March 27, 2019, a loss of about three years of sales growth. Peter Fox-Penner, director of the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy, asserted in…
