USA, Hawaii:

Parker Ranch May Tap into Geothermal Energy Resources (Pacific Business News)

(Courtesy Parker Ranch)

Parker Ranch on the Big Island, one of the largest private landowners in Hawaii, could become a major energy player following the University of Hawaii’s recent discovery that the Waimea ranch’s land might have potential for geothermal resources, Parker Ranch CEO Dutch Kuyper told Pacific Business News on Tuesday.

“The [main] goal is reducing [high] electricity rates,” he said.

The working cattle ranch, which encompasses more than 100,000 acres, has agreed to partner with the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology of the University of Hawaii on an ongoing study of possible geothermal resource areas and groundwater in the state.

Thus far, preliminary findings have concluded that there may be geothermal and groundwater resources underneath Parker Ranch lands, and the planned work will help the ranch find out whether accessible, high-level groundwater may be available for ranch use and whether there is a significant likelihood that deeper geothermal resources could help supply the ranch’s energy needs and possibly the area, island and state, Kuyper said.

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