STAND. COM. REP. NO. 342
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 931
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 931 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Prohibiting, with an unspecified date, any new extension, improvements, overhauling, or refurbishing of any fossil fuel electricity generation or fossil-fuel powered electricity use for grid-tied battery energy storage; and
(2) Prohibiting, by an unspecified date, the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation or grid-tied battery energy storage.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, 350Hawaii, Climate Protectors Coalition, Tesla, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaiian Electric, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, and IBEW Local 1260. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii State Energy Office.
Your Committee finds that it is important to eliminate fossil fuels for electricity generation and storage by transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy economy powered by one hundred percent renewable energy.
Your Committee further finds that the State has also committed to reducing carbon emissions. The renewable energy transformation will help to stabilize and strengthen Hawaii's economy by reducing its dependency on imported and price-volatile fossil fuels, foster innovation and clean energy job growth, help protect Hawaii's environment by greatly reducing carbon emissions by replacing fossil fuel energy with renewable energy, and positioning Hawaii as a global leader in renewable energy and climate solutions.
Your Committee also finds that it is important to implement specific deadlines to reach these benchmarks and that routine maintenance of existing generation sources will help to provide continued delivery of reliable electricity.
Your Committee has
amended this measure by:
(1) Amending section 2 by prohibiting the Public Utilities Commission from approving or extending, after December 31, 2035, any new, extension, improvements, overhauling, or refurbishing of any fossil fuel electricity generation facilities or fossil-fuel powered grid-tied battery energy storage system resource, except for routine maintenance or minor repairs up to $2,500,000 per existing facility in order to maintain reliability;
(2) Amending
section 2 by prohibiting, after December 31, 2045, the use of fossil fuels for
electricity generation or grid-tied battery energy storage; and
(3) Making
technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 931, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 931, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,
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________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair |
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