STAND. COM. REP. NO. 8

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 563

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 563 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A COAL-FREE HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to eliminate the use of coal for electricity production in the State by prohibiting:

(1) Approval by the Public Utilities Commission of any new, modified, or renewed power purchase agreement for electricity generated from coal after June 30, 2019; and

(2) Issuance by the Department of Health of covered source air permits for coal-burning electricity generation facilities after December 31, 2022.

Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Inc.; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Life of the Land; 350Hawaii.org; Organizing for Action; Blue Planet Foundation; Elemental Excelerator; Ulupono Initiative; The Alliance for Solar Choice; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Our Revolution Hawaii; Americans for Democratic Action; We Are One, Inc.; and many individuals supported this measure. The Office of the Governor supported the intent of this measure. Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company and AES Hawaii Inc. opposed this measure. The Public Utilities Commission; Department of Health; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; and Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage 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. 563, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 563, 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,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair