STAND. COM. REP. NO. 946

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 243

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 243, 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 develop a plan for meeting the State's renewable energy, energy efficiency, and zero emissions clean economy targets.

More specifically, this measure requires the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to submit to the Legislature, prior to the Regular Session of 2023:

(1) A strategic plan for achieving Hawaii's one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard; and

(2) A feasibility study on the State's ability to achieve its renewable energy goals by 2045.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaiian Electric, and Climate Protectors Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that this measure will allow interested stakeholders to participate in identifying benchmarks and determining ways to reduce the State's overall energy demand.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 243, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 243, 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