STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1580-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 55

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 55 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO UPDATE A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF UNDERGROUNDING THE STATE'S UTILITY FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to update its 1999 report on the feasibility of undergrounding the State's utility facilities.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau and Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that there is widespread community interest in undergrounding the State's utility facilities to enhance scenic views, address public health concerns, reduce the risk of wind damage, and increase system reliability, among other benefits. Although the Legislative Reference Bureau studied the feasibility of undergrounding the State's utility facilities in the past, the emergence of any new technologies related to undergrounding and overhead utility lines merits further study and consideration.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 55 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

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NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair