STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 33-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 1262
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1262 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to authorize the counties to:
(1) Create a process for the recordation and enforcement of solar easements; and
(2) Require trimming of vegetation that blocks solar radiation from a solar energy device installed before the vegetation was planted.
Your Committee finds that the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, can reduce the costs of electricity and help meet Hawaii's present and future energy needs and renewable energy goals. Solar energy devices on rooftops require direct access to sunlight to function and operate efficiently. Your Committee finds it reasonable to expect trimming of vegetation, planted after installation of a neighboring solar energy device and blocking sufficient access to the sun, to restore the device's function and cost-efficiency.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Removing the authorization for counties to create a process for recordation of solar easements;
(2) Clarifying that the counties' authority to require trimming of vegetation blocking a solar energy device applies to a device on a neighboring property, and changing the statutory placement of that language to chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which relates to general provisions for counties;
(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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. 1262, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1262, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Public Employment.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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