STAND. COM. REP. NO.  255-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3068

      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. 3068 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that more renewable resources will be deployed in energy generation to meet the renewable portfolio standards with attendant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, replacement of fossil fuel oil, and other economic and environmental benefits by requiring that 20 percent of classic electricity generation shall be produced using renewable sources by December 31, 2020.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) and Sierra Club – Hawaii Chapter supported this bill.  The Division of Consumer Advocacy of DBEDT supported the intent of this measure.  Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance opposed this bill.  Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Legislative Information Services of Hawaii, Inc., submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Providing for the use of renewable displacement or off-set technologies, as well as electrical energy savings made available through the use of energy efficiency technologies until a separate energy efficiency portfolio standard is established to meet the renewable portfolio standards;

(2)  Defining "energy efficiency portfolio standard" as the requirement that electric utilities meet a portion of their annual increase in electricity demand through energy efficiency measures;

(3)  Establishing that at least 75 percent of the renewable portfolio standards must be met by electrical energy generated using renewable energy as the source; and

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 3068, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3068, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair