STAND. COM. REP. NO. 7-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1864

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. 1864 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the renewable portfolio standard interim goals for 2030 and 2040 to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy; and

(2) Amend the definition of renewable portfolio standard to more accurately reflect the percentage of renewable energy used in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Elemental Excelerator, Climate Protectors Coalition, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Life of the Land, 350 Hawaii.org, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Surfrider Oahu, Blue Planet, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Hawaiian Electric. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission and Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that it is important to accurately measure the State's progress toward its goal of one hundred percent renewable energy to avoid a sense of false progress. Further, amending the renewable portfolio standard interim goals for 2030 and 2040 to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy addresses the impacts of climate change that have become increasingly urgent.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 1864, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1864, 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