HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	76
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the natural energy laboratory of hawaii authority to develop a strategy to fully transition its facility to renewable energy.

     WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority has access to a unique confluence of vast renewable natural resources including distinctively deep ocean water bathymetry and the highest solar insolation in the coastal United States; and

     WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is also surrounded by class AA seawater, which is pumped to nearly forty thriving enterprises and provides over two hundred jobs; and

     WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority has the longest, deepest, and largest diameter ocean water pipelines in the world, the most diversified system of aquafarms, and acres of algae farms capable of producing biofuels; and

     WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority has an ideal location near an international airport for easy export and the University of Hawaii Center, West Hawaii campus will be in close proximity; and

     WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is classified as a foreign trade and enterprise zone, and is world recognized in the areas of fish farming, algae pond technology, and oceanic nutriceuticals and pharmaceuticals; and

     WHEREAS, constant deliveries of pure fresh seawater are vital for the continuance of aquacultural businesses at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, however, the high cost of electricity to produce seawater, up to seventy-one per cent of the total cost of production, is a constant concern for the State and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority's staff and tenants; and

     WHEREAS, rising oil prices have prompted interest in renewable energy development and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is ideally situated to renew its original research into ocean thermal energy conversion; and

     WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority urgently needs to implement energy production and distribution methodologies, and to do this, it must be able to create new techniques to produce, finance, distribute, and develop renewable energy resources for the benefit of its tenants and the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports the goal of developing renewable energy and encourages the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority's growth as a business and research park powered by maximum renewable energy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority board of directors to create a business plan to develop the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority as a business, technology, and research park powered by renewable energy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is requested to establish a task force to review its governing documents, and recommend amendments, if necessary, that will assist the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority to transition its business, technology, and research park to renewable energy.  The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is requested to include as members of the task force:

(1)  The Executive Director of Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority;

(2)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism or the Director's designee;

(3)  The Director of the Office of Planning or the Director's designee; and

(4)  The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or the Chairperson's designee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is requested to create a development plan, including timelines, to fully transition its facility to renewable energy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is requested to develop a strategy to create and implement a Green Energy Zone at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority facility by 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; the Executive Director of Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; and the Director of the Office of Planning.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; Renewable Energy