STAND. COM. REP. NO. 745

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 868

       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 Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 868, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to update and clarify the duties of the Energy Resources Coordinator to oversee statewide energy resource planning to develop local, nonfossil fuel energy sources in order to decrease Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels and realize the State's long-term goal of energy independence.   

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Blue Planet Foundation.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that this measure makes explicit the expectations that the Legislature, the Executive branch, and the people of Hawaii have that the Energy Resources Coordinator oversee energy planning in order to ensure Hawaii's long term goals of energy independence and environmental stewardship.  Your Committee further finds that this measure provides the Energy Resources Coordinator with greater direction in examining the systemic changes necessary to realize a clean energy future for Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purpose of clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair