STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2207

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3088

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 3088 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HYDROELECTRIC POWER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize construction of small hydropower facilities as defined by the United States Department of Energy in a manner that combines clean energy infrastructure and irrigation for agricultural lands.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation, and Hawaii Cattlemens Council.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committees find that the development of hydroelectric energy-generating facilities in Hawaii is vital to the energy security and energy independence of the State.  Increased use of renewable energy resources will achieve broad societal benefits, including resistance to oil price increases, environmental sustainability, economic development, and job creation.

     Your Committees further find that while Hawaii's agricultural land is a fundamentally important and diminishing resource that is pivotal to the State's initiatives in food security, hydroelectric facilities may be located on agricultural lands in a manner that promotes food and energy security.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that hydroelectric facilities shall be required to be an accessory to agricultural activity on agricultural land for agricultural use; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3088, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3088, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Energy and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair