STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1798

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.C.R. No. 280

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 280 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON CREATING A ONE-STOP PERMIT SHOP FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to encourage the development of renewable energy projects that increase the availability of renewable energy resources and decrease Hawaii's dependency on imported fossil fuels.  Specifically, this measure requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to conduct a study on the feasibility of creating a one-stop permit shop for renewable energy projects to expedite the permit process.

     Castle & Cooke Hawaii and UPC Hawaii Wind Partners, LLC, testified in support of this concurrent resolution.  DBEDT, the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Hawaii Energy Policy Forum supported the intent of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 280 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair