STAND. COM. REP. NO.  487

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 1149

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1149, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WIND ENERGY FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the public against health and safety hazards and to preserve the natural beauty of Hawaii by establishing standards and assurances of adequate financial resources for the safe and proper decommissioning of wind energy facilities at the end of their useful lives.

The Division of Consumer Advocacy testified in support of this measure.  Tawhiri Power, LLC, testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that a wind energy facility, existing on the effective date of this measure, with an existing lease or other agreement that contains provisions for the decommissioning of the wind energy facility shall not be subject to the decommissioning provisions of this measure.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 1149, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1149, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair