STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1339

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 590

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 590, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expedite the processing and approval or denial of any permit plan application for the siting, development, construction and operation of a renewable energy facility, by:

     (1)  Requiring the permitting agency to provide the energy resources coordinator, within thirteen months after the permit application is complete, a report identifying diligent measures that are being taken by the agency to complete permit processing and requiring the agency to take action as soon as practicable; and

     (2)  Giving the energy resources coordinator the authority, subject to certain time requirements, to deem a completed permit application approved if the permitting agency either (A) does not report any further processing or action after it submits its report to the energy resources coordinator, or (B) fails to provide the energy resources coordinator with its report and has not approved or denied the application.

     Your Committee finds that fostering predictability and certainty in the permitting process for renewable energy projects will reduce Hawaii's reliance on fossil fuels and will assist the State in meeting its 2030 renewable energy mandates for the health and welfare of the residents of Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to continue the discussions on this matter.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 590, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 590, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair