CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 987

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 987, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to support renewable energy by:

     (1)  Clarifying the definition of "renewable energy producer" to include thermal energy sold to customers of district cooling systems, for purposes of leasing public lands;

     (2)  Allowing a county to grant, sell or otherwise dispose of easements for chilled water and seawater distribution systems for renewable energy seawater air conditioning district cooling systems by negotiation without public auction; and

     (3)  Establishing, as state and county policy, priority handling and processing of state and county permits for renewable energy projects.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing the effective date from July 1, 2050, to upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 987, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 987, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Co-Chair	____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair
____________________________ KEN ITO, Co-Chair	____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Co-Chair
	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair