STAND. COM. REP. NO. 767

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 997

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 997, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to grant the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Ameresco, the Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Division of Consumer Advocacy; Hawaii State Energy Office; and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that providing an incentive for facilities to meet prevailing wage requirements will help ensure that workers can earn a living wage and will be motivated to pursue long-term careers in the State's utility renewable energy construction sector.

Your Committee has amended this measure by narrowing the scope of the preferential rate to apply to firm renewable energy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 997, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 997, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair