STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1078

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 868

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 868, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help coordinate the development of the State's energy resources while addressing the need for renewable energy by:

     (1)  Updating definitions in the statutes to accommodate changes in the State's energy resources, markets, and systems;

     (2)  Establish necessary policy guidance to ensure adequate detail on the nature and relationship of the energy data analysis functions of the state energy resources coordinator and energy program; and

     (3)  Provide the statutory basis for a systematic State energy analytic capacity and capability.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and Blue Planet Foundation supported this bill.  Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC supported this measure with amendments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Including a consideration of thermal applications of various sources of energy in the definition of "energy resources" to make it more consistent with the proposed definition of "energy"; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 868, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 868, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair