STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2265

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2604

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Transportation and Energy, to which was referred S.B. No. 2604 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A MICROGRID PILOT PROJECT FOR SCHOOLS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to implement an off-grid, microgrid pilot project at a school of the Department's choosing through its Ka Hei program.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Opterra Energy Services, Blue Planet Foundation, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that electricity usage at Department of Education schools causes high utility costs to the Department.  The need to install heat abatement equipment in some schools is likely to increase the demand for electricity at Department schools.

     Your Committees further find that schools may be viable locations for the establishment of off-grid microgrid systems.  Microgrid systems in schools would reduce the Department's electricity costs and reduce load on the municipal power grid.  A school with a microgrid system could serve as a disaster response center and shelter in the event of a hurricane or other civic emergency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Transportation and Energy that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2604 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Transportation and Energy,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair