HB2505 HD1

SECTION 1. Renewable energy resources offer Hawaii important economic, environmental, and energy security benefits, especially since Hawaii's dependency on petroleum is the highest in the nation, accounting for approximately ninety per cent of the State's energy needs. This high petroleum dependency makes consumers extremely vulnerable to any oil embargo, supply disruption, international market dysfunction, and many other factors beyond Hawaii's control.

Recognizing the importance and economic and environmental benefits of increasing energy self-sufficiency, over the past four years, the legislature and the department of business, economic development, and tourism have committed to energy objectives geared toward achieving dependable, efficient, and economical statewide energy systems, increased self-sufficiency, greater energy security, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Act 272, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, recognized the economic, environmental, and fuel diversity benefits of renewable energy resources and the need to encourage the establishment of a market for renewable energy in Hawaii using the State's renewable energy resources. Act 240, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, provided a framework for energy self-sufficiency. The State has also committed to a renewable energy standard that requires twenty per cent of electricity sold to be generated from renewable resources by the end of 2020 and has sought to encourage private sector development of renewable energy projects.

However, renewable energy projects are often complex, large-scale undertakings requiring a number of permits. The process for obtaining the necessary permits for renewable energy projects and developments and the process for meeting state, county, and federal regulations has for decades been described as overly time-consuming, cumbersome, onerous, and costly. In fact, the "Hawaii Integrated Energy Policy Report" of 1991 found that the permit and approval process required for the development and siting of energy facilities for a single project can take up to seven years to complete. Thus, the inefficiency of the permitting and development process acts as a barrier to meeting Hawaii's renewable energy goals.

Understanding that renewable energy projects can provide substantial and long-term benefits to the State and that development of renewable energy projects would further state policies of developing indigenous renewable energy resources and decreasing Hawaii's dependency on imported fossil fuels, the legislature finds that there is a need to streamline the permitting process to provide predictability and to encourage private companies to commit substantial amounts of capital, time, and effort necessary to develop such projects. To these ends, the legislature also recognizes that investment in additional personnel is essential.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish a full-time, permanent renewable energy facilitator position in the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism one full-time equivalent permanent renewable energy facilitator position to facilitate the efficient permitting of renewable energy projects.

(b) The specific duties and responsibilities of the renewable energy facilitator shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Compilation of current information regarding all county, state, and federal permits and land use provisions that may be required for approval of a renewable energy project including statutes, ordinances, federal regulations, rules, processes, responsible agencies, contact information, and websites and categorization of that information by type of renewable energy technology and county. The renewable energy facilitator shall provide access to this information in both printed and internet-based forms;

(2) Development of a website to disseminate all state, county, and federal permitting and land use information relevant to permitting of renewable energy projects;

(3) Development of online resources, as practical, including:

(A) An online permit assistance system that includes project questionnaires, an environmental permit handbook, permit process schematics, and fact sheets; and

(B) A one-stop electronic permitting service for environmental permits;

(4) Establishment and maintenance of a one-stop service center for call-in or walk-in assistance;

(5) Renewable energy project facilitation, as requested, including convening and facilitation of the initial meeting of project applicants with permitting agencies and continuing coordination through project approval;

(6) Identification of permitting efficiency opportunities;

(7) Development of a comprehensive permitting plan for project applicants, including multiple permits to facilitate interagency coordination and efficiency;

(8) Review and recommendation of modifications to Hawaii's permitting system, including the siting council approach; provided that reviews shall include coordination and validation of recommendations by stakeholder agencies; and

(9) Effective consultation and collaboration with all permitting agencies and land use agencies to ensure that the position promotes permit efficiency from the perspective of the project developer and affected agencies.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $112,904 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent renewable energy facilitator position in the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2505
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII