Report Title:
Renewable Energy; Wave Energy
Description:
Directs DBEDT and DLNR to provide assistance to and coordinate with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the UH School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and, if necessary, Hawaii utility companies, to develop the clean energy scenario plan and to identify and designate a geographic area or areas in the waters of the State of Hawaii as renewable energy zones for the establishment of wave energy conversion platforms or hubs for the development of wave energy into a renewable energy source. (HB285 HD1)
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
285 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii natural energy institute at the University of Hawaii's school of ocean and earth science technology was recently selected by the United States Department of Energy as one of two National Marine Renewable Energy Research Centers. The selection means that the University of Hawaii will receive a grant of approximately $1,250,000 per year for as many as five years to conduct renewable energy research and development of technologies that harness the power of waves and ocean thermal energy for conversion into a renewable energy source for the State.
The National Marine Renewable Energy Center is to be a catalyst in public and private partnerships that will assess, evaluate, and commercialize the viability and cost-competiveness of using advanced water power systems.
The timing of the designation of the National Marine Renewable Energy Research Center in Hawaii dovetails with the recent signing of the Clean Energy Agreement by the governor, state consumer advocate, department of business, economic development, and tourism, and Hawaiian Electric Company, on behalf of its three electric utility companies. Part of the Clean Energy Agreement calls for the Hawaiian Electric utility companies, in conjunction with the State and with the approval of the public utilities commission, to develop a clean energy scenario plan. To be included in the clean energy scenario plan are the identification of renewable energy zones for renewable energy development.
The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of business, economic development, and tourism, and department of land and natural resources to provide assistance to and coordinate with the Hawaii natural energy institute at the University of Hawaii school of ocean and earth science and technology and, if necessary, Hawaii utility companies, to develop the clean energy scenario plan and to identify and designate a geographic area or areas in the waters of the State of Hawaii as renewable energy zones for the establishment of wave energy conversion platforms or hubs for the development of wave energy into a renewable energy source.
SECTION 2. The department of business, economic development, and tourism and department of land and natural resources are directed to provide assistance and coordination for permits or approvals required by the Hawaii natural energy institute at the University of Hawaii school of ocean and earth science and technology and, if necessary, Hawaii utility companies in the development of the clean energy scenario plan and the identification and designation of renewable energy zones in the waters of the State of Hawaii for wave energy conversion platforms or hubs for the development of wave energy as a renewable energy source.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.