STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1116

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 977

H.D. 1

S.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. 977, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY FINANCING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to be used to provide financial assistance to underserved ratepayers, in addition to other eligible borrowers; and

(2) Appropriate funds into and out of the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to provide loans or other financial assistance to eligible borrowers for clean energy investments or other authorized uses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Holu Hou Energy; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; PV Tech; Church of the Crossroads; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Coalition Earth; Shifted Energy; Alternate Energy Inc.; Star Energy Systems; Energy Advisors; 350Hawaii.org; LegaSea Energy; Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; Hawaiʻi Energy; Photonworks Engineering LLP; Malama Solar; Green Power Projects LLC; Grand Solar, Inc.; Solar Services Hawaii LLP; Sunrun; and thirty-three individuals.

Your Committee finds that low- to moderate-income households pay a disproportionately higher percentage of their income towards energy bills and do not have the financial means to pursue the installation of renewable energy technologies. This measure seeks to address the financial barrier preventing many struggling households and other underserved ratepayers from reducing their energy burdens and moving towards energy independence. According to testimony received by your Committee, this measure avoids increasing utility bills for all ratepayers and additional financial burdens on the underserved population that this measure is intended to support.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 977, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 977, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair