Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 527 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize counties to permit solar energy facilities in State Land Use Agricultural Districts.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Land Use Commission; Hawaii County Planning Department; and the Hawaiian Electric Company. The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center submitted comments on the measure.

Your Committees find that wind machines and wind farms that are compatible with agricultural uses and cause minimal adverse impact on agricultural land, already are permissible uses in agricultural districts. Your Committees believe that solar energy facilities meeting those criteria should be treated the same and including such use in agricultural districts would be consistent with existing law.

Your Committees also find that solar energy facilities may hold some advantages over wind energy facilities. For example, solar facilities are quiet, with no moving parts, and while the initial cost may be high, there may be tax credits to offset the cost and operating costs may be extremely low.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 527 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations.