STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1011

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 243

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 243, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to:

(1) Develop a strategic plan that outlines benchmarks to achieve a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard and submit the strategic plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and

(2) Conduct a feasibility study on the State's ability to achieve its renewable energy goals by 2045 and submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaiian Electric Company, Life of the Land, and Zero Waste O‘ahu.

Your Committee finds that no strategic plan currently exists for the attainment of the State's goals of achieving a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard and zero emissions clean economy target by 2045. This measure better positions the State to achieve its renewable energy goals and lowers its dependence on nonrenewable energy sources, leading to a more sustainable future.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying its findings, purpose statement, and scope for clarity and consistency;

(2) Deleting language that would have required the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to develop a strategic plan that outlines benchmarks to achieve a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard;

(3) Inserting language that requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a strategic plan that identifies strategies to achieve a resilient, clean energy, decarbonized economy as quickly as practicable but no later than 2045, consider lifecycle emissions related to out-of-state transportation and supply chains, and submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2023;

(4) Specifying that the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute shall conduct a feasibility study of the Hawaii State Energy Office's strategic plan, rather than on the State's ability to achieve its goal of producing one hundred percent of the State's electricity from renewable energy sources by December 31, 2045;

(5) Including additional years in which the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute is required to submit reports to the Legislature; and

(6) 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 Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 243, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 243, S.D. 2, 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