STAND. COM. REP. NO. 445

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1583

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1583, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC GRID RESILIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) The Department of Education to establish a pilot program in at least four schools to install renewable energy systems capable of providing backup power in the event of a natural disaster or other similar emergency; and

(2) The Public Utilities Commission to consider in its current and ongoing proceedings ways to incentivize the implementation of renewable energy systems in public schools.

The O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i supported this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Education, and the Public Utilities Commission offered comments.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1583, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1583, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair