STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1152-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2518

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2518, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXPLORATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for geothermal energy exploration, provided that the exploration efforts include surface and subsurface exploration.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiian Electric; Blue Planet Foundation; Innovations Development Group, Inc.; Indigenous Consultants, LLC; and four individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and two individuals.

Your Committees find that geothermal energy was identified as a near-term and mid-term decarbonization opportunity in the Hawaii State Energy Office's Hawaiʻi Pathways to Decarbonization Report and can help the State meet its renewable energy goals. This measure establishes and appropriates funds to identify locations and characteristics of geothermal resources in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, a geothermal resources characterization program under the direction of the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center of the University of Hawaii;

(2) Updating the purpose of the appropriation and expending agency accordingly;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2518, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2518, 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 Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair