STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1148-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2483

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2483, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Include as an objective in energy-related planning for the State's facility systems that all new utility scale electricity generation projects be renewable;

(2) Include state policies that ensure short- and long-term provision of adequate, reasonably priced, and dependable energy services and that electrical energy sources are renewable;

(3) Update the State's policies to prioritize the dispatch of renewable energy generation, include in least-cost determinations the benefits of non-fossil fuel sources to maximize the reduction in consumption of fossil fuels, and include the use of non-fossil fuel sources in the development or expansion of energy systems; and

(4) Appropriate funds for the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii to study the benefits and costs of dispatching renewable energy resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, Tawhiri Power LLC, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and seventeen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaiian Electric Company. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that the successful deployment of renewable energy projects is integral to the State achieving its goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045. Your Committee further finds that in pursuing the development of multiple renewable energy sources throughout the State, it is important to evaluate and align the dispatch of these sources with ongoing state energy planning efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the preamble, all amendments to the Hawaii State Planning Act to state objectives and policies for energy facility systems, and the appropriation to the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute;

(2) Specifying that the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute shall evaluate the benefits and costs of dispatching renewable energy resources considering the context of ongoing state energy planning efforts; and

(3) 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. 2483, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2483, 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