Hawaii lawmakers debate geothermal energy proposal

The purpose of the law was to make it easier to develop geothermal energy, but Hanohano says it went too far.

"Every time they talk about streamlining it's more like steamrolling," the Democrat told The Associated Press. "Let's do it right."

Although the House Committee on Water and Land changed Hanohano's bill from a full repeal to simply a county permitting process, Hanohano said she supports the current version.

Robert Harris, president of the Hawaii Sierra Club, says that while a county permitting process is a good idea, the state should also reinstitute the subzones.

Harry Kim, former mayor of the Big Island and a strong proponent of the original bill, agrees.

But the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism oppose recreating subzones.

The departments told lawmakers that doing so would be unnecessary and costly. They said they support giving counties more input instead.