STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2127

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.C.R. No. 164

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 S.C.R. No. 164 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on the feasibility of creating a one-stop permit shop to expedite permit processing for renewable energy projects and to recommend any changes needed to establish this streamlined permit process.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC, and Puna Geothermal Venture.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds renewable energy projects can provide substantial benefits to the State and that the development of renewable energy projects would advance the development of home-grown energy resources and would decrease the State's dependence on imported fossil fuels.  Your Committee finds that a one-stop shop for permitting would assist both developers and government agencies by reducing inefficiencies, redundancies, and time delays, and encouraging private investment in renewable energy projects.

     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 S.C.R. No. 164 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair