STAND. COM. REP. NO. 151-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1801

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1801 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to continue efforts to achieve a one hundred per cent renewable portfolio standard and increase Hawaii's reliance on renewable energy by:

(1) Establishing gas utility company renewable portfolio standards for electricity generation; and

(2) Amending the statutory definition of renewable portfolio standard to more accurately reflect the percentage of renewable energy penetration in the State.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Distributed Energy Resources Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light, Life of the Land, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, 350Hawaii.org, Blue Planet Foundation, Surfrider Foundation, Independent Issue Advocate, Grenatec, We Are One, Inc. -www.WeAreOne.cc -WAO, League of Women Voters, Bio Carbon Solutions Global, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in support of the intent of this measure. Hawaii Gas, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure. The Public Utilities Commission provided comments.

Your Committee notes that concerns were raised by various stakeholders that the current language applying renewable portfolio standards to gas utilities contained in this measure may lead to confusion and misinterpretation leading to unintended consequences. Your Committee further notes that the various stakeholders have stated that they are in discussions to develop language to address some of these concerns. Should your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce deliberate on this measure further, your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection respectfully requests that it take these concerns, and any proposed language developed by the various stakeholders, into consideration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 28, 2045, to facilitate further discussion.

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. 1801, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1801, 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