STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1267
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.B. No. 1269
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1269, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES,"
beg leave to report as follows:
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Ulupono Initiative; Life of the Land; Hawaiian Electric; Coalition Earth; Waikā Consulting, LLC; Innovations Development Group; and seven individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hulu Mamo Hawaiian Civic Club and numerous individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi and three individuals.
Your Committees find that geothermal energy presents a stable and viable alternative to biofuels, with significant potential for more utility-scale development on Hawaii island. Additional funding is necessary to support ongoing geothermal exploration, commercial viability assessments, and community outreach to ensure strategic and effective geothermal resource development. This measure advances geothermal energy exploration and facilitates large-scale geothermal power station development.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that funds shall not be used for drilling purposes, including exploratory, test, or production wells, or within a fifteen-mile radius of an existing geothermal power plant that is currently providing electricity to the grid;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $6,000,000.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Economic Development & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1269, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1269, S.D. 1, 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 Economic Development & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair |
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |