Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 19 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority revive and update its 1992 proposal for reactivation of the Noi`i o Puna Research Center. The Research Center promoted a diversity of uses for direct heat and other byproducts from Hawaii Geothermal Project until it shut down in 1989. The new proposal will connect the Research Center to the currently operating Puna Geothermal Venture.

Your Committee received testimony from the Department of Health, which supports the intent of the measure as long as the project does not compromise Puna Geothermal's closed loop system and pose the possibility of hydrogen sulfide release into the atmosphere.

Your Committee finds that the proposed project involves only a heat exchanger and not direct use of the geothermal resource. Also, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority has withdrawn its previous reservations about the project.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 19 and recommends its adoption.