STAND. COM. REP. NO. 47

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1068

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 S.B. No. 1068 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, a Slim-Hole Resource Characterization Program;

(2) Require certain reports to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Electric, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that although geothermal exploration can be commercially risky and expensive, the identification of geothermal resources is essential for the State to meet its firm renewable energy needs. According to testimony received by your Committee, resource characterization through slim-hole bores is a minimally invasive method of gathering data and balances energy development with environmental protection. Your Committee further finds that requiring the Hawaii State Energy Office to identify potential specific resource locations through the Slim-Hole Resource Characterization Program is an appropriate first step to incentivize future private sector investment and the development of state-of-the-art geothermal resources in the State to help meet statutory renewable goals.

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 S.B. No. 1068, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1068, 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