STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 2080
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.C.R. No. 136
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.C.R. No. 136, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO CONVENE A GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE REGULATORY AND POLICY LANDSCAPE SURROUNDING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii State Energy Office; Public Utilities Commission; Ulupono Initiative; Coalition Earth; Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Go Green Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC; and Gateway for Acceleration in Nuclear (GAIN) Initiative.
Your Committee finds that it is imperative for the State to identify alternatives to fossil fuels in order to reduce energy costs and shift to cleaner energy sources. While your Committee recognizes the importance of evaluating geothermal energy development, your Committee believes that there is also a need to evaluate other energy sources that have not been fully considered by the State in order to identify viable energy sources, rule out non-viable sources, and focus efforts accordingly.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a Nuclear Energy Working Group, rather than a Geothermal Energy Working Group, to study the feasibility of using advanced nuclear power technologies in the State;
(2) Changing the composition of the working group;
(3) Changing the working group's focus to studying the feasibility of using advanced nuclear power technologies, evaluating risks and barriers to developing and using advanced nuclear power technologies, and identifying nuclear energy goals;
(4) Amending the list of recipients of certified copies of this measure; and
(5) Amending its title and findings in accordance with its amended purpose.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 136, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 136, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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