STAND. COM. REP. NO. 206-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2469

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. 2469 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRITICAL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen Hawaii's energy systems through minimization of grid infrastructure disaster risks from sea level rise by prohibiting state or county agencies from issuing permits to applicants for the construction or operation of a new grid-connected electrical generation facility in excess of one megawatt or energy storage facility in excess of one megawatt hour that is located anywhere in a sea level rise exposure area.

The Department of Health, Blue Planet Foundation, Protect Marine Life Committee for the Democratic Party on Hawaii Island, and Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu testified in support of this measure. Hawaii Gas, Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association testified in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the prohibition of the issuance of permits to applicants for the operation or construction of new grid-connected electrical generation facilities is applicable only to ratepayer funded new grid-connected electrical generation facilities;

(2) Increasing the required electrical output of the new grid-connected electrical generation facility from one megawatt to five megawatts and the required energy storage capacity of an energy storage facility from one megawatt hour to fifty megawatt hours; 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. 2469, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2469, 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