STAND. COM. REP. NO.  194

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 982

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 982 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the use of renewable energy sources to generate electrical energy.

     More specifically, this measure includes customer-cited, grid connected renewable energy generation in the definition of the term "renewable electrical energy" beginning January 1, 2015.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, the Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, and the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter.  Testimony in opposition of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.  The Public Utilities Commission submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that including customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy generation in the definition of "renewable electrical energy" will reduce the State's reliance on imported fuel by encouraging and facilitating the use of renewable energy from various sources.  Your Committee further finds that this measure clarifies that all customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy generation will count towards the renewable portfolio standards of an electric utility.

     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 H.B. No. 982 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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