STAND. COM. REP. NO.  317-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2825

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. 2825 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST SOPOGY INC., IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to decrease Hawaii's dependence on oil and increase its use of renewable resources by authorizing special purpose revenue bonds (SPRBs), not to exceed $35,000,000, to be issued to assist Sopogy, Inc., to plan, build, and operate a solar farm power plant on Oahu.

     Sopogy, Inc., and Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance testified in support of this bill.

     The proposed multi-megawatt power plant on Oahu will utilize proprietary concentrated solar power systems to generate electricity.  Last session, the Legislature authorized up to $10,000,000 in SPRBs to assist Sopogy, Inc., in establishing a solar farm power plant at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority's site on the island of Hawaii or another suitable site in the state.

     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. 2825 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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