Report Title:
Renewable Energy; Electricity
Description:
Increases the renewable portfolio standard percentage to 30 per cent of net electricity sales by 2020. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2990 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature notes that renewable energy resources can greatly benefit Hawaii's economy, environment, energy security, and sustainability. The increased use of Hawaii's abundant renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, ocean thermal, wave, and biomass resources, are keys to reducing Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels, reducing Hawaii's green house gas emissions and contribution to global warming, and creating new job opportunities and economic diversification.
The legislature finds that Hawaii's trade deficit is also a significant impediment to Hawaii's goal of economic and energy security and sustainability. Specifically, in 2006, Hawaii exported only $16,300,000,000 in goods and services, including visitor spending, while importing approximately $24,000,000,000. The legislature further finds that Hawaii's oil imports totaled $3,400,000,000 for the year, accounting for approximately fifteen per cent of the total imports. Over ninety-three per cent of Hawaii's energy is supplied by fossil fuel.
Act 95, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, established a renewable portfolio standard in chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statues, which requires that each electric utility company shall generate ten per cent of its net electricity sales from renewable resources by December 31, 2010, fifteen per cent by December 31, 2015, and twenty per cent by December 31, 2020. Hawaii's electric utilities used fossil fuel to generate ninety-two per cent of the electricity they sold in 2006. This represented almost twenty-five per cent of the total fossil fuel imports and cost approximately $749,102,000. Since electric utilities can most readily use renewable energy relative to Hawaii's other energy sectors, the legislature mandated the renewable portfolio standards.
The purpose of this Act is to increase the percentage of electricity required to be generated from renewable sources under Hawaii's renewable portfolio standards, with the goal of achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, replacement of fossil fuel oil, and other economic and environmental benefits.
SECTION 2. Section 269-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Each electric utility company that sells electricity for consumption in the State shall establish a renewable portfolio standard of:
(1) Ten per cent of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2010;
(2) Fifteen per cent of its net electricity sales by December 31, 2015; and
(3) [Twenty] Thirty per cent of its net
electricity sales by December 31, 2020."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.