THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1353

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the hawaii state energy office.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to clarify the core responsibilities of the Hawaii state energy office by:

     (1)  Expanding the duties of the Hawaii state energy office to include developing opportunities for economic development; and

     (2)  Transferring certain duties relating to energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resilience, and clean transportation related incentives, programs, and goals from the chief energy officer to the Hawaii state energy office.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 196, part V, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]Part V.[]]  Hawaii state energy office

     [[]§196-71[]]  Hawaii state energy office; established.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii state energy office, which shall be a public body politic and an instrumentality and agency of the State.  The office shall be placed within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes, pursuant to section 26‑35.  The purpose of the Hawaii state energy office shall be to [promote] stimulate economic development by promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resilience, and clean transportation [to help achieve a resilient clean energy economy].

     (b)  The Hawaii state energy office shall:

     (1)  Create and execute a state strategic energy plan with milestones and key performance indicator metrics based on this section;

     (2)  Coordinate the State's energy programs with those of the federal government, other territory and state governments, the political subdivisions of the State, departments of the State, and governments of nations with interest in common energy resources and economic development in accordance with the State's energy goals;

     (3)  Develop and maintain a comprehensive and systematic quantitative and qualitative capacity to analyze the status of the energy industry, resources, systems, and markets, both in-state and in other states and countries, particularly in relation to the State's economy, and to recommend, develop proposals for, and assess the effectiveness of policy and regulatory decisions, and energy emergency planning;

    [(1)] (4)  Provide analysis, [and] planning, recommendations, and implementation of policies, strategies, and plans to [actively develop and inform policies to] achieve economic development, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation goals with the legislature, public utilities commission, state agencies, and other relevant stakeholders;

     (5)  Identify, in coordination with public and private sector stakeholders, issues and opportunities in the industry to cost-effectively and expeditiously achieve the State's energy goals;

     (6)  Create and review proposed state actions that may have a significant effect on the State's energy and economic development goals;

     (7)  Evaluate, recommend, and participate in the development of incentives and programs that encourage the development of energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation resources;

     (8)  Create and facilitate energy-based jobs and ancillary industry-based jobs that are primarily full-time, permanent, and long-term;

     (9)  Create and facilitate energy-based jobs and ancillary industry-based jobs that are temporary and short-term;

    (10)  Identify skills and knowledge-based job requirements to provide to education and workforce development agencies;

    (11)  Support the development, evaluation, revision, and adoption of energy-related codes and standards that advance the State's energy goals;

    [(2)] (12)  [Lead efforts] Advocate for, recommend programs, and provide technical assistance to incorporate energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation to reduce costs and achieve clean energy, energy assurance, and energy resilience goals across all public facilities;

    [(3)  Provide renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy resiliency, and clean transportation project deployment facilitation to assist private sector project completion when aligned with state energy goals; and

     (4)] (13)  Engage the private sector to help [lead] efforts to achieve renewable energy and clean transportation goals [through the Hawaii clean energy initiative.];

    (14)  Identify market gaps and innovation opportunities, collaborate with stakeholders, and facilitate public-private partnerships to develop projects, programs, and tools to encourage private and public exploration, research, and development of energy resources and data analytics that will support the State's energy and decarbonization goals;

    (15)  Facilitate and support a diverse mix of technologies of firm renewable and intermitted renewable projects to create a resilient and reliable energy system;

    (16)  Act as the State's energy data clearinghouse by identifying, collecting, compiling, analyzing, publishing, and where possible, monetizing energy and clean transportation data and analyses;

    (17)  Advocate for the State's energy and economic development goals at relevant venues and departments, including but not limited to the legislature, public utilities commission, division of consumer advocacy within the department of commerce and consumer affairs, and community members, to ensure that state energy policies and regulations align with the state strategic goals, are data-driven, and offer affordable energy to residents and businesses;

    (18)  Facilitate the efficient, expedited development processes and approvals of energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation projects by:

          (A)  Facilitating coordination across state and local government agencies, departments, boards, and commissions to assist public and private sector development and completion of any projects that support the state economic development and energy goals;

          (B)  Coordinating and aligning state and county departments and agencies to support, expedite, and remove barriers to deployment of energy initiatives and projects;

          (C)  Identifying and evaluating conflicting goals, rules, and resource utilization and onerous policies and rules within state and county departments that unreasonably impede project development and deployment;

          (D)  Proposing regulatory, legislative, administrative, or other solutions to applicable stakeholders; and

          (E)  Facilitating resolution to process and approval issues;

    (19)  Identify and recommend policies to align utility goals with those of ratepayers, including but not limited to evaluating utility models, models of competition, utility independent power producer procurement and delivery processes, and plans for renewable portfolio standards achievement that best support state energy goals;

    (20)  Contract for services when required for the implementation of this part; and

    (21)  Adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, for the administration of this part.

     (c)  The Hawaii state energy office shall be the State's primary government entity for supporting the clean energy initiative.

     (d)  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, or as requested, the Hawaii state energy office shall submit a report to the legislature and the governor that includes:

     (1)  A description of the activities of the Hawaii state energy office in response to the directives established pursuant to subsection (b) [and section 196-72(d)], along with progress in meeting any of the Hawaii state energy office goals established in or pursuant to this part;

     (2)  Performance milestones and indicators related to the State's energy, economic development, and jobs creation goals;

    [(2)] (3)  Progress by the State in meeting its energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation goals; and

    [(3)] (4)  Proposed legislation, if any to achieve economic development, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation goals.

     [[]§196-72[]]  Chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office; duties.  (a)  The Hawaii state energy office shall be led by the chief energy officer, who shall be nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by the governor; provided that the term of the chief energy officer shall be coterminous with the term of the governor.

     (b)  The chief energy officer shall have:

     (1)  Experience, knowledge, and expertise in policy, programs, or services related to economic development, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation[, and energy resiliency] related activities and development; and

     (2)  Experience in a supervisory or administrative capacity.

     (c)  The chief energy officer shall hire staff necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.  The chief energy officer and employees of the Hawaii state energy office shall be exempt from chapter 76 and shall not be considered civil service employees but shall be entitled to any employee benefit plan normally inuring to civil service employees.

     [(d)  Subject to the approval of the governor, the chief energy officer shall:

     (1)  Formulate, analyze, recommend, and implement specific policies, strategies, and plans, in coordination with public and private sector stakeholders, to cost-effectively and equitably achieve the State's energy goals;

     (2)  Identify, track, and report key performance measures and milestones related to the State's energy and decarbonization goals;

     (3)  Provide technical assistance to state and county agencies to assess and implement projects and programs related to energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, energy resiliency, and related measures;

     (4)  Coordinate the State's energy programs with those of the federal government, other territory and state governments, the political subdivisions of the State, departments of the State, and governments of nations with interest in common energy resources;

     (5)  Identify market gaps and innovation opportunities, collaborate with stakeholders, and facilitate public-private partnerships to develop projects, programs, and tools to encourage private and public exploration, research, and development of energy resources, distributed energy resources, and data analytics that will support the State's energy and decarbonization goals;

     (6)  Create and review proposed state actions that may have a significant effect on the State's energy and decarbonization goals, report to the governor their effect on the energy program, and perform other services as may be required;

     (7)  Evaluate, recommend, and participate in the development of incentives and programs that encourage the development of energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, distributed energy resources, and clean transportation resources;

     (8)  Assess and evaluate the effectiveness and continued necessity of existing energy related incentives, tax credits, and programs, and provide recommendations and proposed changes;

     (9)  Develop and maintain a comprehensive and systematic quantitative and qualitative capacity to analyze the status of energy resources, systems, and markets, both in-state and in other states and countries, particularly in relation to the State's economy, and to recommend, develop proposals for, and assess the effectiveness of policy and regulatory decisions, and energy emergency planning;

    (10)  Develop and recommend programs for, and assist public agencies in the implementation of, energy assurance and energy resilience;

    (11)  Support the development, evaluation, revision, and adoption of energy-related codes and standards that advance the State's energy goals;

    (12)  Act as the State's energy data clearinghouse by identifying, collecting, compiling, analyzing, publishing, and where possible, monetizing energy and clean transportation data and analyses;

    (13)  Advocate for the State's energy and decarbonization goals at relevant venues and departments, including but not limited to the public utilities commission, legislature, and division of consumer advocacy, to ensure that state energy policies and regulations align with the state strategic goals and are data-driven;

    (14)  Support economic development and innovation initiatives related to and resulting from the State's renewable energy and distributed energy resources experience, capabilities, and data analyses;

    (15)  Facilitate the efficient, expedited permitting of energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and energy resiliency projects by:

          (A)  Coordinating and aligning state and county departments and agencies to support, expedite, and remove barriers to deployment of energy initiatives and projects; and

          (B)  Identify and evaluate conflicting or onerous policies and rules that unreasonably impede project development and deployment and propose regulatory, legislative, administrative, or other solutions to applicable stakeholders;

    (16)  Identify and recommend policies to align utility goals with those of ratepayers, including evaluating utility models that best support state energy goals;

    (17)  Prepare and submit an annual report and other reports as may be requested to the governor and to the legislature on the implementation of this part;

    (18)  Contract for services when required for the implementation of this part; and

    (19)  Adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, for the administration of this part.]"

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii State Energy Office; Economic Development; Duties

 

Description:

Expands the duties of the Hawaii State Energy Office to include developing opportunities for economic development.  Transfers certain duties relating to energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resilience, and clean transportation related incentives, programs, and goals from the Chief Energy Officer to the Hawaii State Energy Office.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.