STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1091

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1051

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1051, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an additional energy-efficiency portfolio standard of six thousand gigawatt hours of electricity use reductions statewide by 2045;

(2) Require the Public Utilities Commission to establish interim goals for electricity use reduction by 2035 and 2045 and allow the Public Utilities Commission to adjust the 2045 standards and interim standards; and

(3) Require any interim goals established by the Public Utilities Commission to show clear progress toward meeting the statutory 2030 and 2045 energy-efficiency portfolio standards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauaʻi; Ulupono Initiative; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Climate Future Forum; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Coalition Earth; Carbon Cashback Hawaiʻi; Hawaiian Electric; 350Hawaii.org; Blue Planet; Hawaiʻi Energy; Fair Wind Inc.; Climate Hawaiʻi; and twelve individuals.

Your Committee finds that the establishment of the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standard sixteen years ago has generated many successful energy-saving programs for residents and businesses statewide. Your Committee recognizes that energy efficiency not only provides significant financial and environmental benefits to the general public, but is often the most cost effective means of meeting the State's clean energy goals. This administrative measure affirms the State's commitment to energy efficiency by aligning the energy efficiency portfolio standards requirements with the renewable portfolio standards timeline and allowing the Public Utilities Commission to further develop the standards to best meet the State's ambitious clean energy goals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1051, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair