STAND. COM. REP. NO.  853-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2003

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2003 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ENERGY POLICY FORUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to plan for a preferred energy future for Hawaii by appropriating funds for the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum (Forum) to continue its work, in fiscal year 2008-2009, in developing smart energy solutions through an action plan that identifies specific areas of interest on which the Forum will focus.

     The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., and its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company, Ltd., and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and Forum testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and University of Hawaii System offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2003 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair