SB2624

SECTION 1. The Hawaii energy policy forum comprises a diverse group of stakeholders representing the renewable energy industry, electric utilities, labor organizations, oil and natural gas suppliers, environmental groups, and federal, state and local government, including representatives from the neighbor islands. The vision of the policy forum is to develop smart energy solutions to sustain a healthy, prosperous, and secure Hawaii. Its mission is to be a collaborative forum for sharing ideas and information, seeking consensus, recommending and advocating policies and initiatives, and promoting civic action to achieve a preferred energy future for Hawaii. Since its inception in 2002, the policy forum, in cooperation with the legislature and the administration, has led the efforts to initiate a number of improvements to Hawaii's energy laws and policies. It has held a number of informational briefings that have been free and open to the public in its effort to educate Hawaii's residents about energy issues.

A unique feature of the policy forum is its Ten Point Plan: an action plan that identifies specific areas of interest on which the forum will focus. It includes specific action items for each point and methods to achieve each goal. As with all the policy forum's outcomes, the Ten Point Plan is determined by a consensus of the policy forum's membership. The policy forum updated its ten point plan in August 2007 to take into account the initiatives that have been passed in the years since the forum's inception and the work that remains to be completed.

Although much has been accomplished in the past few years to position Hawaii as one of the leaders of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country, there is much more that must be done. The cost of oil has increased substantially during 2007, and this is expected to have a profound negative effect on Hawaii's economic well-being. This requires yet more steps be taken to reduce Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuels. Therefore, it is imperative that the policy forum continue its collaborative work with all energy stakeholders to ensure that Hawaii has a sustainable, renewable, and affordable energy future.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds so that the Hawaii energy policy forum may continue to implement the vision, concepts, and recommendations of the updated ten point plan to meet Hawaii's energy goals. This will allow stakeholders to continue their work from planning to implementation, and it will permit further engagement of policymakers, decision-makers, and consumers on issues relevant to creating Hawaii's preferred energy future.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to continue the work of the Hawaii energy policy forum for the purpose of:

(1) Implementing the detailed action plans to achieve the Hawaii energy policy forum's Ten Point Plan to meet Hawaii's energy goals;

(2) Monitoring energy-related policies and programs to continually assess and update tangible goals, objectives, desired outcomes, and actions to achieve the energy vision and goals of the Hawaii energy policy forum;

(3) Continuing to refine and evaluate benchmarks for measuring outcomes of energy implementation strategies;

(4) Continuing to engage Hawaii's business, government, labor, and community leaders and integrate them into the policy activities and discussions of the Hawaii energy policy forum; and

(5) Continuing to educate the greater community and create public awareness about Hawaii's energy needs.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. The Hawaii energy policy forum shall submit a report on the updated detailed action plan and timeline to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2624
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII