Workers plugging energy wells as lava flows nearby
"Right now, they're in a safe state,"
The wells run as deep as 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) underground at the plant, which covers around 40 acres (16 hectares) of the 815-acre (329.8 hectare) property. The plant has capacity to produce 38 megawatts of electricity, providing roughly one-quarter of the
Lava destroyed a building near the plant, bringing the total number of structures overtaken in the past several weeks to nearly 50, including dozens of homes. The latest was a warehouse adjacent to the Puna plant, covered by lava on Monday night,
Puna Geothermal, owned by
Native Hawaiians have long expressed frustration with the plant since it came online in 1989; they say it is built on sacred land. Goddess of fire, Pele, is believed to live on
Scientists, however, say the conditions on
"There's heat beneath the ground if you dig deep enough everywhere," said
Geothermal energy is also considered a clean resource as it doesn't generate greenhouse gas emissions, said
Puna Geothermal represents about 4.5 percent of
Kaleikini said the gases that could potentially leak from the Puna plant are no different from those coming from active fissures.
The
The volcano's
Underscoring the eruption's dangers, a
Clinton says it was "incredibly powerful and hot" and he went into shock. A friend wrapped a sheet around his leg and called for help. Doctors saved his leg, but he must avoid putting weight on it for six weeks.
Clinton was the first to suffer a major injury because of the eruption.
Scientists say lava from
It's just the latest hazard from a weeks-old eruption that has so far generated earthquakes and featured gushing molten rock, giant ash plumes and sulfur dioxide. There has been continuous low-level ash emission from
Yan reported from
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