Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

HILO, Hawaii: When Big Island Video News covered a Homegrown Energy Forum in Hilo on Saturday, it was clear that the focus was on geothermal power. But energy from biomass kept creeping into the conversation.

Robert Rapier, Merica International’s Chief Technology Officer, was billed as a biofuels specialist, but he expressed little confidence in using biomass as viable alternative to counter the coming peak oil crisis.

Later, during the public question and answer portion of the meeting, Rapier was asked about the Aina Koa Pono project, a bioenergy project slated for Pahala. Rapier said that he was not coming out against the project, but he did warn the public that due diligence is needed in assessing these sort of new technologies. He says he tends to be more critical when a company is seeking tax payer dollars to fund their venture.