STAND. COM. REP. NO.  225-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2636

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2636 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to restrict solar energy facilities in residential housing areas in agricultural districts to have a capacity of no more than 25 kilowatts.

Several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Office of Planning, Blue Planet Foundation, and two concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Land Use Commission, Department of Agriculture, and three concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the no more than 25 kilowatt capacity restriction on solar energy facilities; and

     (2)  Allowing a county with a resident population greater than 170,000 but fewer than 500,000 to require a special permit approval process for solar energy facilities with a capacity of more than 25 kilowatts.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2636, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2636, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair