SR115 SD1

WHEREAS, Hawaii has committed to achieving a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard by 2045 under section 269-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and has made significant progress in the development of renewable energy resources; and

WHEREAS, however, the State remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, creating high energy costs and economic vulnerability and increasing the urgency to accelerate the development of local firm renewable energy resources; and

WHEREAS, on January 29, 2025, the Governor issued an executive order that recommits the State to its one hundred percent renewable portfolio standard goal, while setting a new goal to accelerate renewable energy for neighbor island communities and directing state departments to streamline and accelerate permitting to reduce energy costs and project timelines; and

WHEREAS, ninety-one percent of respondents in a statewide public opinion survey on energy in Hawaii expressed their support for the expansion of renewable energy resources throughout the State, with the importance of developing Hawaii's own energy resources emphasized by respondents across all counties; and

WHEREAS, geothermal energy provides a stable, firm, and dispatchable source of renewable power, capable of supporting grid stability and resilience while reducing dependence on imported oil; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has substantial geothermal potential, particularly on Hawaii Island, and there is growing interest in responsibly developing community-led geothermal resources to contribute to the State's clean energy goals and support community development; and

WHEREAS, despite its potential, geothermal energy in Hawaii has been hindered by regulatory uncertainty, permitting challenges, land use restrictions, and public concerns that require careful consideration and engagement; and

WHEREAS, a coordinated, transparent, and community‑inclusive process is essential to evaluating the role of geothermal energy in Hawaii and identifying a clear development pathway that aligns with state policy, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Energy Office is the lead agency for energy policy and planning and is well-positioned to convene stakeholders and provide guidance on challenges and opportunities relevant to geothermal energy technology; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii State Energy Office is requested to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

(1) The Chief Energy Officer, or the Chief Energy Officer's designee, who is requested to serve as chairperson of the working group;

(2) The Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committee and House of Representatives Standing Committee whose subject matter purview includes energy, or their designees;

(3) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

(4) The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

(5) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

(6) The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

(7) The Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, or the Executive Director's designee;

(8) The Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

(9) A representative from the University of Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center;

(10) A representative from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu;

(11) A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Maui;

(12) A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii;

(13) A representative from an electric utility, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

(14) A representative from the geothermal industry, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

(15) A representative from a non-governmental organization with experience in energy policy, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

(16) A representative from the Native Hawaiian community, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group; and

(17) Other members, as invited by the chairperson of the working group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

(1) Identify key regulatory, policy, and permitting challenges affecting geothermal energy in Hawaii;

(2) Review best practices from other jurisdictions with successful geothermal energy programs and consider best practices of Pacific island countries such as New Zealand;

(3) Assess the potential for geothermal expansion and its role in supporting energy resilience and affordability; and

(4) Provide recommendations to the Legislature and Governor on policy and regulatory reforms necessary to establish a clear and efficient pathway for geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Energy Office is requested to submit a report of the working group's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chief Energy Officer; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Health; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; Director of the University of Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Planning Department of the County of Maui; and Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii.

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	115
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII