STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3164

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2535

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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2535, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the required distance from the shore of a main Hawaiian island where offshore wind turbines may be sited.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric Company, and Progression Energy.

Your Committee finds that offshore wind energy could play an important role in assisting the island of O‘ahu and the State in achieving its goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045. As O‘ahu's high energy demand and consumption creates challenges to achieve electricity independence without off-island resources, wind energy may provide a solution to reduce fossil fuel dependence and consumption. Maximizing the State's clean energy resources allows for Hawai‘i's communities, ratepayers, and environment to experience a clean energy future. Your Committee further finds that striking a key balance between the production of wind energy and the protection of Hawai‘i's delicate, unique coral reef ecosystems is necessary to achieving both renewable energy and conservation goals.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 30, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2535, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2535, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair