STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2868

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2510

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2510, 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 facilitate the use of renewable energy within the State.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Appropriates moneys for the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to update the state energy plan;

(2) Establishes a state energy policy that requires at least fifty-five percent of renewable energy to be generated by firm renewable energy and for renewable energy to replace fossil fuel energy and achieve one hundred percent renewable energy generation;

(3) Requires the State to maintain a diversified renewable energy portfolio;

(4) Amends various statutory provisions to achieve at least fifty-five percent firm renewable energy generation for each island; and

(5) Appropriates moneys for the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute to conduct a study to update the minimum percentage of firm renewable generation for each island and the maximum proportion of any one renewable energy source on each island.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and fifty-eight individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Tawhiri Power, LLC; 350Hawaii; and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii, Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaiian Electric, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that as the State is committed to achieving its goal of using one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045, the State needs to take steps to implement climate-friendly clean energy, self-sufficiency, and sustainability. Your Committee therefore believes that it is vital for the State to pursue a diverse array of renewable energy sources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the definition of the term "intermittent renewable energy", which does not appear in the new statutory language proposed by the measure, with a definition of the term "intermittent renewable generation";

(2) Clarifying the deadline for the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute's study; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes 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. 2510, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2510, 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