US Geological Survey

Hawaii’s Mount Kīlauea eruptions have caused damage throughout the Island of Hawai’i, but a new concern has been slowly building: earlier this week Reuters reported that lava is creeping onto the property of a 38 MW geothermal plant called Puna Geothermal Ventures (PGV). Lava damage could cause problems for the plant’s operations in the future, and some officials are concerned that damage to geothermal wells could result in releases of hydrogen sulfide gas, which is toxic to humans. Although lava had been held back by a natural berm for days, yesterday Reuters again reported that a new lava flow had entered the 815-acre PGV property.

Thus far, the only structure that has been destroyed at the geothermal plant has been an old warehouse that was used in the early days of the plant and had been used for storage since, according to a Hawai’i County spokeswoman.