STAND. COM. REP. NO. 309

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 111

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 111, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation or storage after December 31, 2045; and

(2) Prohibit the Public Utilities Commission from approving cost recovery of any application or proposal for generation or storage facilities that use fossil fuels, with certain exceptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, Our Revolution Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaiian Electric Company and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu, 350Hawaii.org, Climate Protectors Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure reinforces the intent of the State's policy goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045. Eliminating fossil fuel-powered electricity generation and storage will steadily increase renewable generation while providing an electric utility with sufficient runway so as to not negatively impact its renewable portfolio standard.

Your Committee further finds that existing emergency generators for critical facilities rely on fossil fuels to generate electricity at a level of reliability needed in the case of an emergency. According to testimony received by your Committee, there are no plans to replace these generators since comparable generators operating on renewable energy sources have not evidenced the same level of reliability necessary in times of emergency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Exempting emergency generators from the prohibition against fossil fuels for electricity generation or storage; and

(2) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 111, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 111, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair