STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3127

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2862

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2862, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WIND ENERGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve the permitting process required for the development of a wind energy project that would use an undersea cable to transmit electricity between islands.

     Specifically, this measure establishes a coordinated permitting process under the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the approval of the permits required for an interisland wind energy and undersea cable project.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by UPC Wind Management, LLC.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Life of the Land; and one private citizen.  Comments were submitted by the Director of Health; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and; Castle & Cooke Hawaii.

     Your Committees find that the coordinated permitting process must not neglect due process, and encourage further discussion and review related to due process related concerns.

     Your Committees further find that there is a need to streamline the permitting process to provide predictability and to encourage private companies to commit substantial amounts of capital, time, and effort necessary to develop renewable energy projects.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2862, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2862, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair