STAND. COM. REP. NO.  755-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   S.B. No. 2357

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2357, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require gas utilities in Hawaii to submit annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission that contain information on:

(1)  The ratio of petroleum and non-petroleum feedstocks used to produce natural gas, biogas, biofuel, or biofeedstocks sold in the State; and

(2)  The energy quantity of natural gas, biogas, biofuel, or biofeedstocks sold in the State and produced from petroleum and non-petroleum feedstocks.

     This measure also requires the Public Utilities Commission to report to the Legislature regarding the ratio of petroleum and non-petroleum feedstocks used to produce natural gas, biogas, biofuel, or biofeedstocks sold in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Blue Planet Foundation, and the Sierra Club - Hawaii Chapter.  The Gas Company submitted written comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that it is in the best interests of the State to accurately measure all renewable resources that contribute towards reducing the State's dependence on imported petroleum.  Your Committee finds that this data will assist in determining whether the State is making progress toward meeting its goal of a renewable energy portfolio standard of seventy per  cent by 2020.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Amending the purpose clause in section 1 to clarify the intent of the measure;

     (2)  Clarifying the frequency and due dates of the reports;

(3)  Clarifying that the reports contain information on the amount of fuels and feedstocks for use by the gas utility in the State;

(4)  Specifying that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism shall have access to confidential information provided by the gas utilities in their reports, the purposes for which that information may be used, and that confidentiality shall be protected; and

(5)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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. 2357, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2357, 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