STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1425

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, 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 bill is to include customer-sited, grid-connected, renewable energy generation in the definition of "renewable electrical energy" beginning January 1, 2015.  This will allow electric utility companies selling electricity in the State to include energy generated this way in their renewable portfolio standards which require the companies to reach specific percentages of renewable energy by specific dates.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaiian Electric Company; Maui Electric Company; and Hawaii Electric Light Company supported this measure.  Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance opposed this bill.  The Public Utilities Commission provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce 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 Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair