THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

52

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

requesting the drafting of a master plan incorporating consumer and economic issues and concerns to address hawaii's future alternative energy requirements.

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii may be a leader in developing renewable energy resources; and

WHEREAS, in a single year, renewable sources of energy such as biomass, wind, hydropower, biogas, Photovoltaic, and solar thermal have saved the State as much as 3.5 million barrels of oil and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 1.9 million tons; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii residents must make far greater use of renewable resources if they expect to significantly reduce dependence upon imported petroleum and associated pollution; and

WHEREAS, the islands are a hotbed of research and development and are well-positioned to lead in the search to find new technologies to provide cleaner and less-expensive electricity; and

WHEREAS, the State should establish green marketing programs to facilitate acquisition of renewable resources and thereby derive the following benefits:

(1) Reduction of our use of imported fossil energy;

(2) Stimulation of our economy;

(3) Protection of our environment;

(4) Increasing the reliability of our electric utility grids; and

(5) Increasing our energy security;

and

WHEREAS, the State lacks a master plan that identifies alternative energy sources and how they can economically or feasibly be integrated to address Hawaii's energy requirements; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the department of business, economic development, and tourism, environmental groups, utility companies, the Hawaii Technology Trade Association, and the senate committee on water, land, energy and environment shall cooperatively draft a master plan to address Hawaii's alternative energy requirements for the future; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the master plan shall identify alternative energy sources and how they can economically or feasibly be integrated to address Hawaii's energy requirements, and the positive and negative consumer aspects of the various alternative energy technologies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the master plan be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the Regular

Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the president of the senate, department of business, economic development, and tourism, environmental groups, utility companies, and the senate committee on water, land, energy and environment.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Master plan identifying alternative energy sources