Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 786, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer affairs submitted testimony in support of intent of this measure. The PUC submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that this measure supports the development of renewable energy resources by providing for the organization of cooperatives that wish to generate their own electricity and authorizing the Director of Finance to issue revenue bonds for the construction and upkeep of transmission facilities, and acquisition of rights-of-way for transmission lines.

However, the feasibility of such a program in a state such as Hawaii, with its small population and geographically isolated utility systems, needs further review. Therefore, your Committee has provided an effective date of July 1, 2099, to facilitate further investigation and discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 786, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 786, H.D. 2.