Eighteen months after lava flows sidelined Puna Geothermal’s power plant, the company is taking steps to restart operations.
The company recently issued notices to Big Island residents that it will begin drilling on a 5,000-foot deep production well next Wednesday. It expects to complete the project by mid-January.
Big Island Mayor Kim said the company told him it could restart operations shortly after that.
“They were fairly well pleased ... that the damage was not as extensive as they thought it might be," Kim said.