STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2649

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2847

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2847 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to include solar energy facilities as a permitted use within the agricultural district on land with soil classified D or E.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Dowling Company, Inc., Castle & Cooke Hawaii, SunPower Corp., Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and Maui County Farm Bureau.  The Department of Agriculture submitted testimony offering comments on this measure.

     Your Committees find that renewable energy resources can greatly benefit Hawaii's economy, environment, energy security, and sustainability.  The increased use of Hawaii's abundant renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, ocean thermal, wave, and biomass resources, is key to reducing Hawaii's green house gas emissions and contribution to global warming and creating new job opportunities and economic diversification.

     Your Committees further find that Hawaii's trade deficit is also a significant impediment to Hawaii's goal of economic and energy security and sustainability.  Specifically, in 2006, Hawaii exported only $16,300,000,000 in goods and services, including visitor spending, while importing approximately $24,000,000,000.  Hawaii's oil imports totaled $3,400,000,000 for the year, accounting for approximately fifteen per cent of the total imports.  Over ninety‑three per cent of Hawaii's energy is supplied by fossil fuel.  Allowing a solar energy facility on marginal agricultural lands may have more beneficial effects for Hawaii's economy, environment, and energy security than having such lands go unused.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2847 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Energy and Environment,

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair