STAND. COM. REP. NO. 472
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2007
RE: H.B. No. 872
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2007
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 872 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to encourage development of renewable energy projects.
More specifically, this measure clarifies the definition of "renewable energy producer" to include thermal energy sold to customers of district cooling systems. This measure will also allow counties to grant, sell, or dispose of easements for chilled water and seawater distribution systems for renewable energy seawater air conditioning district cooling systems by negotiation without public auction.
Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC, and World Business Academy submitted testimony in favor of this measure.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted testimony in support of the intent of the measure.
Your Committee finds that this measure would treat seawater air conditioning system developers similarly to other renewable energy producers with respect to the leasing of public lands. Further, the measure would streamline the process for obtaining easements for seawater distribution systems and chilled water systems and thereby encourage the expansion and use of thermal energy technologies.
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. 872 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair |
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