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,
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____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair |
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