Hawaii lawmakers debate geothermal energy proposal

Many state leaders see Hawaii's volcanoes as part of the solution to the state's energy woes. Already, geothermal energy supplies about 20 percent of the electricity used on the Big Island. But environmental groups and Native Hawaiian organizations are worried about the effects of unbridled development.

The House Committee on Finance approved a bill Monday that would require county approval of geothermal energy projects by establishing a county-level permitting process.

The bill also explicitly allows counties to impose rules limiting geothermal energy development.

Advocates say the proposal adds important environmental safeguards and community input.

But some say the current version of the bill doesn't provide enough protections for the land or the public.

The original version of the bill, authored by Rep. Faye Hanohano, sought to overturn a 2012 law that allowed geothermal energy development to occur throughout the state, rather than just in designated subzones. Critics say the law doesn't allow enough county oversight over potential projects.