STAND. COM. REP. NO. 391-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2105

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2105 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, the Slim-Hole Resource Characterization Program under the direction of the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center at the University of Hawaii to identify geothermal and carbon sequestration resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office; Blue Planet Foundation; Ulupono Initiative; Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi; and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that resource characterization through slim-hole bores can help identity geothermal and carbon sequestration resources across the State. Your Committee further finds that the identification of geothermal resources can help ensure that the State has firm sources of renewable energy, which are necessary to supplement wind and solar energy. Your Committee believes that this measure addresses this need by requiring the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, the Slim-Hole Resource Characterization Program to identify geothermal and carbon sequestration resources.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

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 H.B. No. 2105, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2105, 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