HR178.DOC

WHEREAS, Hawai‘i's isolated location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has resulted in a dependence on imported fossil fuel for most of the energy needs of the state; and

WHEREAS, because of this isolation and the resulting dependence on imported fossil fuel, it is imperative that Hawai‘i search for new, renewable energy resources to become more self-sufficient and less susceptible to fluctuations in the price and supply of an increasingly limited world supply of fossil fuel; and

WHEREAS, although globally isolated, Hawai‘i is in the unique position of having an abundance of renewable energy sources anywhere in the world, including wind, solar, and ocean-thermal energy; and

WHEREAS, while the natural beauty of Hawai‘i is recognized throughout the world and is often cited as the basis for visitors coming to our island state, Hawai‘i's fragile and unique environment is susceptible to minute changes in environmental conditions; and

WHEREAS, Hawai‘i, as well of the rest of the world, is experiencing the negative environmental effects from the use of present energy sources, specifically, coal, oil, and propane; and

WHEREAS, given the considerable risk of oil spills causing destruction to our reefs and coastal environments, and recognizing the negative effects the use of other fossil fuels has on our environment, using the abundance of renewable natural energy resources available to the residents of Hawaii is the logical action to take; and

WHEREAS, oil tankers and refineries also present a security risk as they are strategically vulnerable to terrorist attacks in attempts to cause havoc to the residents of our state; and

WHEREAS, efforts in the use of renewable energy resources in the past, including solar-water heating, wind-power, and ocean-thermal energy, as well as more recent developments in photovoltaic energy production, have been successful, and new developments in wave-generated energy also point to this method of energy production as a promising new form of generating natural, clean, and renewable energy; and

WHEREAS, not only will development of natural renewable energy have a positive impact on Hawai‘i's environment and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuel, but this expansion of the renewable energy sector will also create many new jobs and ongoing employment for the local labor force in planning, development, construction, and maintenance of these energy systems, which is especially timely during the difficult economic times that the residents of Hawaii are currently facing, and will be facing for the near term; and

WHEREAS, energy conservation measures and development of renewable energy systems have been demonstrated to be monetarily successful throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, developing and increasing Hawai‘i's use of renewable energy will help increase Hawaii's energy independence, work toward improving the environmental conditions of Hawai‘i, and help stimulate Hawai‘i's economy; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that this body supports funding of research and development, and the application of viable renewable energy sources (excluding those which rely on imported palm and vegetable oil) that would ensure that a minimum of 40% of the

total electric generation in Hawai'i be generated from new (not currently applied) renewable resources by 2015, within a secondary goal of 50% renewable energy sources by 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body further supports legislation that provides tax incentives, feed-in tariffs, and rebates that will both accelerate and enable development of large scale and small scale alternative energy systems, including but not limited to retrofitting existing buildings, solar water heating, solar photovoltaic, wind, tide, wave, and ocean thermal systems, and concentrated solar power; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is urged to accelerate energy conservation measures and programs and non-fossil fuel energy production and programs by:

(1) Inviting Request for Proposals (RFP's) for such programs from utilities, government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations; and

(2) Setting accelerating deadlines to implement such RFPs subject to PUC public hearing requirements;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Congress is also urged to enact laws to require increased vehicle mileage fuel efficiency for all motor vehicles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body further supports encouraging, by law, the use of only energy sources and fuels that show a net fossil fuel savings over their entire life-cycle; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the director of the Public Utilities Commission and the members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Supporting energy efficiency and the further development of sustainable energy sources.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	178
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII