STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2311

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2624

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2624 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII ENERGY POLICY FORUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the continuation of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds so that the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum may continue to implement the vision, concepts, and recommendations of the updated ten point plan to meet Hawaii's energy goals.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Division of Consumer Advocacy, Department of Commerce and Consumers Affairs; University of Hawai‘i System; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and its subsidiary utilities, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Ltd.; Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; and Hawaii Energy Policy Forum.  Comments were submitted by the Department of Business Economic Development, and Tourism.

     Your Committee finds that the continuation of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum will allow stakeholders to continue their work from planning to implementation, and it will permit further engagement of policymakers, decision-makers, and consumers on issues relevant to creating Hawaii's preferred energy future.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2624 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair