STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1003

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1346

      S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1346, S.D. 2, 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 and reduce the State's reliance on imported fossil fuel by amending the definition of "renewable electrical energy" to include customer-sited, grid-connected, renewable energy generation beginning January 1, 2015.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaiian Electric Company.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.

     Your Committee finds that this measure would reduce the State's reliance on imported fossil fuel and increase the use of renewable energy by clarifying Hawaii's renewable portfolio standards law to include all renewable energy delivered to the utility as part of the renewable portfolio standards.

     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. 1346, S.D. 2, 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,

____________________________

DENNY COFFMAN, Acting Chair