REPORT TITLE:
Solar Power; Govt. Buildings


DESCRIPTION:
Directs government agencies to install photovoltaic cells and
batteries in essential facilities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2318
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO SOLAR POWER.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that section 226-18,
 
 2 Hawaii Revised Statutes, states that the energy-related goals of
 
 3 the State are to provide dependable, efficient, and economical
 
 4 statewide energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the
 
 5 people; to increase self-sufficiency and the use of indigenous
 
 6 sources of energy; and to provide greater energy security in the
 
 7 face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems.
 
 8      Hawaii spends $1,000,000,000 a year to buy foreign oil to
 
 9 provide for the State's energy needs.  Hawaii's isolated location
 
10 makes the State vulnerable to natural disasters and other
 
11 emergencies.  Major disasters and emergencies have the potential
 
12 to destroy the infrastructure for the production and distribution
 
13 of electricity, compounding the effects of the catastrophe.  It
 
14 is imperative that critical government facilities such as police,
 
15 fire, and ambulance services are operational under the adverse
 
16 conditions of major natural disasters or other emergencies.
 
17      The legislature further finds that Hawaii is the most
 
18 advanced industrialized state nearest the equator.  The
 
19 University of Hawaii has the technological capability to become a
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        


 1 world leader in photovoltaic research and Hawaii is in an ideal
 
 2 location for the testing and use of photovoltaic systems.
 
 3      The purpose of this Act is to provide for greater energy
 
 4 self-sufficiency in government agencies by requiring the
 
 5 installation of photovoltaic systems.
 
 6      SECTION 2.  Beginning July 1, 2000, all state agencies shall
 
 7 begin the process of installing and using photovoltaic systems
 
 8 and energy storage devices on buildings that house government
 
 9 facilities that provide critical services during natural
 
10 disasters and other emergencies.  The equipment installed shall
 
11 be adequate to reduce the need for off-site power by at least
 
12 three per cent per year, using fiscal year 1998-1999 as a
 
13 baseline year, until the building generates all of its energy
 
14 needs on-site.  The comptroller shall determine the buildings
 
15 subject to, and develop a schedule to effectuate, this Act.
 
16      SECTION 3.  The photovoltaic system shall be sized to
 
17 eventually provide one hundred per cent of the anticipated
 
18 electrical load.  The photovoltaic system shall be designed for
 
19 modularity purposes with the ability to increase capacity in the
 
20 future.
 
21      SECTION 4.  The comptroller shall report to the legislature
 
22 twenty days prior to the convening of the 2001 regular session on
 
23 the progress made with respect to the installation and use of
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        


 1 photovoltaic systems and energy storage devices.
 
 2      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
 3 
 
 4                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________