STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1493

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1588

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 Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1588, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Nuclear Energy Task Force within the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Nuclear Energy Institute; Third Way; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Clean the Pacific; Recycle Hawaii; Energy Justice Network; 350Hawaii.org; Bitches Against Nukes; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Greenpeace Hawaii; Ka Lahui Hawaiʻi; Kauai Women's Caucus; Maui Peace Action; Our Revolution Hawaii; Surfrider Foundation, Kauai Chapter; Veterans for Peace Chapter 113 Hawaii; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Malu ʻAina Center for Non-violent Education & Action; Life of the Land; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Kupuna Council of Traditional Hawaiian Healers; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that nuclear energy is a reliable energy source capable of generating carbon-free electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. Your Committee finds that the State should evaluate the potential of utilizing nuclear power technologies in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees with primary jurisdiction over environmental matters are required to serve on the Task Force;

(2) Adding a representative from an environmental organization to be invited to the Task Force;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes the testimony from the Hawaii State Energy Office regarding the challenges and current lack of cost, production, safety, and nuclear waste management information on nuclear energy technology, including small modular reactors, to determine feasibility of use in the State and recognizes that further consideration of the objectives of the Nuclear Energy Task Force is needed.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1588, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1588, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair