STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3290

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2072

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2072, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the State's renewable energy goals.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a strategic plan that outlines benchmarks for the State to achieve a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard by December 31, 2045; and

(2) Appropriates moneys for the development of the strategic plan.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office; 350 Hawaii; Big Island Community Coalition; Climate Protectors Coalition; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; IMUA Alliance; Ulupono Initiative; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Energy Office should be the lead entity to develop and communicate a strategy to determine how renewable energy projects can be sited to minimize impacts and address community concerns, as well as to assess how Hawaii's several related statutes regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency, and its zero emissions clean economy target will be achieved.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Adding, as part II of the measure, the substance of S.B. No. 2547, S.D. 1, which requires the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to conduct a feasibility study on the State's ability to achieve its renewable energy goals by 2045, and report its findings to the Legislature;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2072, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2072, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair