STAND. COM. REP. NO.  928-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2636

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2636, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow 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.

Numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Planning and an individual testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and an individual provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring, rather than 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.

     Your Committee notes that the term "solar energy production" is not defined in the measure.  However, this term refers to energy production generated by the sun.

     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. 2636, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2636, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair