STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1969

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1269

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1269, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the continued exploration and identification of geothermal resources and commercial viability for utility-scale geothermal production in counties with a population of less than three hundred thousand, with certain limitations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Life of the Land; Hawaiian Electric; Lepo ʻUla South Kaʻū Rural Enterprise & Innovation Hive; Coalition Earth; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party; Energy Justice Network; Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Hawaii; Pele Defense Fund; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Waikā Consulting, LLC; Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi; Ulupono Initiative; and two individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1269, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair