STAND. COM. REP. NO.  368

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 903

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 903 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the renewable portfolio standard calculation to be based on electrical energy generation, as opposed to electrical energy sales, to more accurately reflect the amount of renewable energy generation in Hawaii.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Transportation, Blue Planet Foundation, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Life of the Land, The Maritime Group, LLC, and Ulupono Initiative supported this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Solar Energy Association supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiary utilities, Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company opposed this measure.  The Public Utilities Commission and Par Hawaii provided comments.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed language offered by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism that:

     (1)  Amends the renewable portfolio standard to a ratio of total renewable electrical energy generated from grid-connected renewable energy systems divided by total electrical energy generated from grid-connected energy systems, expressed as a percentage;

     (2)  Promotes fairness and alignment in Hawaii's transition to renewable energy by establishing renewable portfolio standards and targets for gas utility companies, which mirrors the standards and targets set for electric utility companies; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 903, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 903, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair