STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1646-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2934

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2934, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the availability of renewable energy production and rate benefits by:

     (1)  Requiring the Public Utilities Commission to establish community-based renewable energy tariffs that allow electric utility customers to own portions of a renewable energy facility that sells electricity to the electric utility; and

     (2)  Allowing any person or entity, including an electric utility, to propose a community-based renewable energy project.

The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company; Hawaii Electric Light Company; and an individual supported this measure.  The Public Utilities Commission; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Blue Planet Foundation 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. 2934, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair