STAND. COM. REP. NO. 549-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2469

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2469, H.D. 1, 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 ratepayer funded new grid-connected electrical generation facility in excess of five megawatts or energy storage facility in excess of fifty megawatt hours that is located anywhere in a sea level rise exposure area.

Blue Planet Foundation testified in support of this measure. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Ltd., and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. testified in opposition to this measure. The Department of Health provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2469, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2469, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair