STAND. COM. REP. NO.  598-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2505

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2505 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to fund the establishment of a renewable energy facilitator position in the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance.  Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of the measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Your Committee finds that a renewable energy facilitator would facilitate the efficient permitting of renewable energy projects and provide:

 

     (1)  A centralized permitting information resource to assist agencies and applicants with information gathering;

 

     (2)  Efficient strategies for a one-stop permit shop for renewable energy projects; and

 

     (3)  Shorter development timeframes for renewable energy projects.

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying the duties and responsibilities of the renewable energy facilitator position; and

 

     (2)  Making technical amendments that have no substantive effect.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2505, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2505, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair