Report Title:
Electricity; Agricultural Producers
Description:
Requires the public utilities commission to establish a preferential rate structure for electricity provided by agricultural producers.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
490 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to electricity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. A renewable portfolio standard is a regulatory policy that requires the increased production of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energies. Recognizing the State's commitment to developing renewable energy sources and the state constitution's mandate to further state self-sufficiency, Hawaii established a renewable portfolio standard requiring twenty per cent of the electricity generated by the State's public utilities to be generated from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. The Hawaii clean energy initiative calls for forty per cent of the State's energy to be generated from renewable energy sources by the year 2030.
Sources of renewable energy generation best benefit the State when they can be produced locally. Further, it is in the interests of the State to promote the long-term viability of its agriculture by establishing incentives that will reward agricultural activities that contribute to the production of renewable energy sources.
The purpose of this Act is to establish incentives for agricultural activities leading to renewable energy production.
SECTION 2. Section 269-94, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§269-94 Waivers,
extensions, and incentives.[]] (a) Any electric utility
company not meeting the renewable portfolio standard shall report to the public
utilities commission within ninety days following the goal dates established in
section [[]269-92[]], and provide an explanation for not meeting
the renewable portfolio standard. The public utilities commission shall have
the option to either grant a waiver from the renewable portfolio standard or an
extension for meeting the prescribed standard.
The public utilities commission may provide
incentives to encourage electric utility companies to exceed their renewable
portfolio standards or to meet their renewable portfolio standards ahead of
time, or both[.], including but not limited to:
(1) Establishing a preferential rate structure for electricity generated from renewable energy resources by producers engaged in agricultural activities;
(2) Creating a renewable energy credit trading program which establishes a value for all of the attributes associated with renewable energy production; and
(3) Providing credit for environmental services such as improving air and water quality, flood control, wildlife habitat areas, and carbon sequestration.
(b) For the purposes of this section, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, biogas, biofuel, wind, geothermal, low impact hydropower, and renewable resource fuel cell energy sources are eligible for the incentives provided under this section."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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