THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2297
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to The Hawaii State Planning Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 226-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  To further achieve the energy objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to:

     (1)  Support research and development as well as promote the use of renewable energy sources;

     (2)  Ensure that the combination of energy supplies and energy-saving systems is sufficient to support the demands of growth;

     (3)  Base decisions of least-cost supply-side and demand-side energy resource options on a comparison of their total costs and benefits when a least-cost is determined by a reasonably comprehensive, quantitative, and qualitative accounting of their long-term, direct and indirect economic, environmental, social, cultural, and public health costs and benefits;

     (4)  Promote all cost-effective conservation of power and fuel supplies through measures, including:

         (A)  Development of cost-effective demand-side management programs;

         (B)  Education; and

         (C)  Adoption of energy-efficient practices and technologies;

     (5)  Ensure, to the extent that new supply-side resources are needed, that the development or expansion of energy systems uses the least-cost energy supply option and maximizes efficient technologies;

     (6)  Support research, development, demonstration, and use of energy efficiency, load management, and other demand-side management programs, practices, and technologies;

     (7)  Promote alternate fuels and transportation energy efficiency;

     (8)  Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gases in utility, transportation, and industrial sector applications;

     (9)  Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions through agriculture and forestry initiatives; [and]

    (10)  Provide priority handling and processing for all state and county permits required for renewable energy projects[.];

(11) Develop renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, ocean thermal energy conversion, wave, geothermal, and biofuels, on ceded lands that are located on public trust land;

(12) Ensure that the development of energy resources on public trust land:

(A) Directly benefits native Hawaiians and the public beneficiaries of the trust; and

(B) Includes a community benefit package that contains provisions for revenue sharing with the community and energy allocation for small business development;

(13) Promote the development of geothermal energy resources as an affordable and reliable source of firm power for Hawaii, without excluding the development of other potential sources of firm power; and

(14) Enter into partnerships with the private sector to increase the State's energy self-sufficiency and energy independence."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii State Planning Act; Energy; Public Land Trust

Description:

Amends the Hawaii state planning act to include the development of renewable energy resources on public trust land and public-private partnerships to achieve the State's energy objectives.

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