STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1636-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2981

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2981, S.D. 2, H.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 allow the Public Utilities Commission to direct electric utilities to include specific scenarios in each utility's integrated resource planning action plan to help the State achieve its clean energy goals by:

     (1)  Developing a framework to replace oil-based power generation facilities; and

     (2)  Examining certain policies related to the distribution of renewable energy, including the transmission of excess electricity generated from firm or intermittent renewable resources via an undersea cable.

The Blue Planet Foundation, the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, and an individual supported this measure.  The Kuliouou/ Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board No. 2 and an individual opposed this measure.  The Public Utilities Commission and Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiary utilities, Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company, commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2981, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair