A community in the Hilo region of Hawaii has rejected a call to mediate an ongoing dispute over evening and weekend drilling conducted by Puna Geothermal Venture in the area. The community organization formed to contest the drilling, the Puna Pono Alliance, chose instead to continue to pursue the litigation it has launched against the company.

The Hawaii County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability attempted to offer an alternative solution, introducing a resolution asking the company to agree to stop drilling on weekends in exchange for the community dropping the lawsuit. However, the Puna Pono Alliance rejected the non-binding resolution, believing the only way to ensure compliance would be a court order or settlement, and also wishing to punish the company for what they believe to be a complete disregard for their concerns and quality of life.

Advocates for the community’s position include the former mayor of the community and other civic leaders.

Puna Geothermal Venture insists that ceasing drilling for extended periods of time is a safety issue, as it could result in failure of the well and the release of gas. The opposition has pointed out that if that is the case, the company should never have been issued a permit to drill in the first place.

Legislation has been introduced to ban overnight and weekend drilling, but the lawsuit will continue in any case. The company has claimed legislation banning drilling for extended periods would violate its vested and permitted interests, but stopped short of threatening a countersuit.