Concerns of the implications of the geothermal project in the Roseau Valley will be addressed for the second time tonight in what has been described at a ‘big meeting’ in Laudat.
According to the organizers the meeting will tackle health and wellness, economic impact, tourism, water contamination, among others, of the project.
Speaking on privately-owned Q95 Hot Seat Programme on Wednesday Elvis Stedman, Vice President of the Geothermal Awareness Group, said meeting’s agenda does not seek to hinder any development taking place in the Roseau Valley.
“A lot of our issues are long term and that’s what we basically talking about, not to prevent development,” he remarked.
Steadman dismissed suggestions that politics was behind the matter but said they were sincere concerns by citizens. “Absolutely not,” he stated. “It’s sort of a spin to take away the genuine concerns that the people actually have … if the media comes tonight they will probably see it’s all to do with genuine concerns.”
The project has been hit with controversy recently when residents began to complain that it could have negative impact on the their health and the environment.
They are now demanding independent studies into the matter.
Meanwhile Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has assured the resident that their concerns will be addressed. He said overseas-based expert will be coming to Dominica and they will be addressing and responding to some of the concerns.
Imagine the geothermal power plant. As long as you look at it, you will see some type of „smoke“ rising up from strange wide „chimney“. Is this real smoke? Is that real chimney? No. Right answer is that just the water steam is rising up from the cooling tower, not from chimney. Therefore the question is: Is this steam harmful for human health or is it not? In other words, does geothermal energy hurt human health?
That water steam, leaked through cooling tower, is just the small part of water steam released from steam turbine and delivered to tower in order to be cooled and liquefied, then used again for producing the steam fueling the turbine. Just the clear water, without any toxic or harmful substances.
For your better imagination, how geothermal power plant works, we recommend this short video created by CalEnergy:
Let’s look at the health impact of geothermal facilities closer. In an simplified way, all factors can be derived from principle described above. No smoke means no need to burn fossil or other type of fuel, which means production of no emissions, toxic or harmful substances. If we talk about power plants in general, we can identify four main types of emissions:
■NOx emissions, especially Nitrogen Oxide (NO) – responsible for lung irritation, coughing, smog formation as well as for water quality deterioration.
■Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) – causing wheezing, chest tightness, respiratory illness as well as various ecosystem damages, especially acid rains.
■Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – the reason of global warming and its impact like rising the sea level, increasing the risk of damaging floods, prolonging dry seasons and accelerating glacial melting.
■Particulate Matter (PM) – causing asthma, bronchitis, cancer, atmospheric deposition as well as visibility impairment.
One case study, comparing the coal and geothermal power plant, revealed this conclusion: Coal plant updated with scrubbers and other emissions control technologies emits 24 times more carbon dioxide, 10,837 times more sulfur dioxide, and 3,865 times more nitrous oxides per megawatt hour than a geothermal steam plant.
In conclusion, geothermal power plant produces no Nitrogen Oxides as well as no Particulate Matter. In matter of Sulfur Dioxides, directly it does not emit them, but once hydrogen sulfide is released as a gas into the atmosphere, it eventually turns into sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid. On the other hand, amount of hydrogen sulfide produced by geothermal facility ranges from 0 to 0.35 lb/MWh (in case of coal plant 10.39 lb/MWh). In addition, CO2 production is also very low: from 0 to 88.8 lb/MWh, in comparison with coal facility on level of 2,191 lb/MWh. If CO2 is produced, it is just the secondary impact linked to operational issues of geothermal complex.
As the numbers prove, geothermal power is clean source of energy in fact, producing almost none of dangerous emissions with negative impact on human health.
Roseau Valley residents do not accept no hogwash talk from no one. What the Minister need to know is that people and their health comes first not their pockets and money
Please see what happening right now in Layou, do not allow the same to happen to you all
many of those in favour of the project are not residing in the valley and care less
Development comes with a lot of consequences good and bad, so take note and be in solidarity with the people of layou and do not allow the same to happen in the valley
this geothermal plan was in the works for a long time now. thats part of the reason they made the roads bigger so that the equipments are able to make it to those small villages like laudat and watten waven. they only choose to let the people know bout it now.. but the truth is dominica is not going to benefit that much from the project, the french will..and like america the french will not spend time and money on a project that has no interest to them.. so please spare us the blsht and tell the people the truth..they deserve that much..
Roseau Valley residents do not accept no hogwash talk from no one. What the Minister need to know is that people and their health comes first not their pockets and money
Please see what happening right now in Layou, do not allow the same to happen to you all
many of those in favour of the project are not residing in the valley and care less
Development comes with a lot of consequences good and bad, so take note and be in solidarity with the people of layou and do not allow the same to happen in the valley
It is sad that this whole matter has been blown entirey out of proportion. A nice little power plant to produce cheap environmentally friendly energy, for the benefit of the whole nations, has now been turned into a major environmental disaster threatening the live of every Dominican. One can imagine that Dominicans think this has never been done before and there is no experence. There are hundred of thousends of people all over the world living in the vicinity of geothermal power stations and not being harmed,leading their normal life. Emissions from the geothermal power station to be built in Roseau valley is propably less than the smog generated by the diesel generators down by Astapans building material store. Be positive and think forward.
This is not about politics! The entire populace should be concern because any geothermal extraction process will result in environmental impact. The fact is no risk management plan will mitigate the depletion of the Island’s natural features (the boiling lake and hot springs over time can be easily and irreparably damaged). They will eventually die. The reduced pressure in the ground caused by the geothermal extraction can result in subsidence (the land sinking, landslides etc.). There are also the concerns of water and air pollution and the side effects on human, plant and animal life.
The adverse effect may not be realized immediately. However, the question is “Does the benefit outweigh the cost?” Will we be able to boast that DOMINICA is the Nature Isle when its natural features are no longer? And most importantly, our next generation…..Do we care?
Something to ponder on!!!
Are you talking facts or speculating? Why hasn’t the boiling lake in New Zealand dried up? While there are environmental impacts on any development, can you tell me what method of converting the heat energy into electrical energy is to be used?
It is obvious that you miss the point. The concern is not figuring out alternate ways to produce geothermal generated electricity.
For those of us who are involved in geotechnical engineering would be familiar with the three types of geothermal technology currently in use around the world; dry steam, flash and binary. Students take note!!!!
This is no speculation about geothermal extraction if conducted would present some environmental problems. That’s a fact!
I am in no way opposing this exploration. I give preferentiality to this energy generating process over fossil fuel. I am simply high lightening potential consequences for discussion purposes. The Boiling Lake is just one natural feature that will potentially be affected. There are other areas that are of more concern such as the effect on human life. There is loads of information out there that supports ones curiosity.
@ Kakarat – I am not sure what you are saying but you should know that New Zealand land area 103,483 sq mi compared to our mere not even 300 sq mi. Also the impact of every geothermal plant is unique – we have some general idea as to what should be expected but we don’t have a 100% certainty of what may happen when this development is done. That is why we need to have a thorough EIA done by an independent body qualified in the field of geothermal development. At least that will give us an idea of the risk with the proposed project.
DNO, is there an explanation as to why you deleted my response to kakarat? You should delete my original post also. Is the level of discussion a bit too high?
It seems geothermal is a must have. Electrical bills are in the hundreds today.
But one thing I want to know, what’s the state of Hydro? Why have they abandoned Hydro, does anyone have some info on that?
Did you know that most of the energy from this plant is to be exported to the French islands? Dominicans will likely not see their bills go lower.
A geothermal plant is simply a man made sulphur spring. The same things brought up by the Boiling Lake, Valley of Desolation and other sulphur areas, like the one in the photo, every day for the past thousands of years is what a geothermal plant will bring up.We have lived with this all of our lives in the Valley. So what is the big deal?
The big deal is that MAN will be altering the natural process.
You can’t mess with nature without paying a consequence!
It most certainly is not the same thing. How can you compare something that is naturally occurring to something that is manipulated by man. Even if some of the chemicals are the same, you can mess up the balance of the ecosystem by adding more. Plus, the environmental degradation that often happens with geothermal is well-documented. Please read up on these things before you post a comment like this.
Dominica is proving to be the only country whre people willing sacrifice their health, welfare and even that of the future generation all in other to see their political party cling on to power
Here u go again politics showing its ugly face;;;
skeritt will pay these people to say anything. i dont trust that man and his party and this is not about politics.
i am not involved in politics because i hate politicians.but i know what people like are like
Toma you too Foolish, go read a book according to Angelo Alleyne!!!!
It would be nice at the end of it all, we the people are told how much of our taxes went to pay all those experts arriving on Island to educate our people. I am waiting with baited breath for the $$$$$$$value for this whole saga. For those of us living outside of Dominica we would like to know the names and others on the forfront representing the people of the neighbouring villages. To every story there is two sides and the truth lies in the middle.
Will the meeting be carried live?
give the people jobs skerrit,outside experts cost thousand of dollars,hope you being honest with the people.
****DON’T BLAME THE RESIDENTs****
The experts should have been brought in MUCH EARLIER to inform the residents even before the project was getting started.
The resident are skeptical because they were never informed of the pros & cons of the project!!
We all hope that their concerns will be satisfied after the information sessions.
Trueman you just sitting down where ever you are and write what you want??
Who tell you these experts were not in dialogue with the people before the commencement of the project??
What is wrong with you people?? All you really believe is a bunch of Idiots that is on island for real man??
A diaspora said that once on one of Angelo show and i ignored it but it really seems that this is the concept you all have out there.
Well i have news for you we are better off and brighter than you diasporas’ and we are home!!!
Joe: «All you really believe is a bunch of Idiots that is on island for real man??»
I feel ya, Joe! I think those residing out of Dominica have this impression because they have allowed themselves to be brainwashed by the filthy waters that emerge from a certain news channel.