HB1248.DOC

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1248
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to microgrids.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the development of renewable microgrids can aid Hawaii's transition to a clean energy economy. In this context, a microgrid is a small energy network, interconnected with an electric utility grid, or utilizing an electric utility grid, which is powered by renewable energy, and which may be islanded from the electric utility grid if needed.

The legislature further finds that microgrids have the potential to be a testing ground for greater integration of renewable energy, distributed generation, storage, and demand response technology. Microgrid demonstration projects will enable the State to learn how to reduce costs, increase grid reliability and resiliency, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the cost of infrastructure, and increase the efficiency of transmission and distribution.

The purpose of this Act is to enable microgrid demonstration projects that can assist in understanding, developing, and refining microgrid technologies and policies in the State.

SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§269- Enabling microgrid demonstration projects. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter, microgrid demonstration projects shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter, except as may be needed to facilitate safe interconnection of the microgrid demonstration project to an electric public utility grid. Any person who owns, controls, operates, manages, or otherwise participates in a microgrid demonstration project shall not be considered a public utility for the purpose of participating in the microgrid demonstration project.

(b) The public utilities commission may take any steps the commission deems necessary to enable and compel electric public utilities to allow the development of microgrid demonstration projects by non-utilities. These steps may include issuing related orders, amending or adopting related rules, working with permitting agencies or other authorities to grant exemptions, or other steps necessary to enable microgrid demonstration projects.

(c) A microgrid demonstration project shall be exempt from any wheeling restrictions when the wheeling is conducted within the designated boundaries of the project.

(d) The property controlled by the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority, established pursuant to chapter 227D, and the Kalaeloa community development district, designated in section 206E-193, are designated as microgrid demonstration projects. After January 1, , the public utilities commission may designate other demonstration projects without legislative approval.

(e) Not later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, each microgrid demonstration project established or authorized pursuant to this section shall submit an annual report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations on the demonstration project.

(f) For the purposes of this section, "microgrid demonstration project" means a renewable energy generation, storage, or distribution network that:

(1) Is designated by the legislature and is associated with a governmental or a quasi-governmental entity;

(2) Is authorized by the public utilities commission;

(3) May or may not cross property boundaries, easements, public thoroughfares, transportation rights-of-way, and utility rights-of-way;

(4) May or may not provide, sell, or transmit renewable energy to a person other than the person who owns, controls, operates, or manages the microgrid demonstration project;

(5) May or may not use portions of an electric public utility's transmission or distribution lines to provide, sell, or transmit electricity to participants in the microgrid demonstration project;

(6) Uses electricity generation, located on the microgrid demonstration project, with a total generating capacity of five megawatts or less;

(7) Uses only renewable energy, as defined in section 269-91, to generate electricity, except in cases of emergency; and

(8) Can be islanded from the electric public utility grid from time to time."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________