SCR164

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Hawaii's dependency on petroleum is the highest in the Nation, accounting for approximately ninety per cent of the State's energy needs; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's high petroleum dependency makes the consumers extremely vulnerable to any oil embargo, supply disruption, international market dysfunction, and many other factors beyond our control; and

WHEREAS, the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has committed to energy objectives toward achieving dependable, efficient and economical statewide energy systems, increased self-sufficiency, greater energy security and reduction of green house gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law, Act 272, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, to recognize the economic, environmental, and fuel diversity benefits of renewable energy resources and the need to encourage the establishment of a market for renewable energy in Hawaii using the State's renewable energy resources; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law, Act 240, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, in order to provide a framework for energy self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, the State has committed to a renewable energy standard, where twenty per cent of electricity sold will be generated from renewable resources by the end of 2020; and

WHEREAS, the State has sought to encourage private sector development of renewable energy projects; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Integrated Energy Policy Report of 1991, found that the permits and approvals required for the development and siting of energy facilities, can take up to seven years for a single project; and

WHEREAS, renewable energy projects are often complex, large-scale undertakings requiring a number of permits; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes a need to streamline the permitting process to provide predictability and to encourage private companies to commit substantial amounts of capital, time, and effort necessary to develop such projects; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that a streamlined and expedited process should not entail the elimination or reduction in environmental protection or public participation in the process; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that in order to achieve an expedited, streamlined process that retains adequate public oversight, entails investing in additional personnel; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that such projects may need further incentives to become established in the State, such as grants, tax credits, and other assistance; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that renewable energy projects can provide substantial and long-term benefits to the State and that development of renewable energy projects would further State policies of developing indigenous renewable energy resources and decreasing Hawaii's dependency on imported fossil fuels; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature is committed to advancing projects that support renewable energy technology in order to meet the State's renewable energy portfolio standards; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that Hawaii's energy situation provides both challenges and opportunities, and these challenges can be bridged by opportunities to partner with the private sector; and

WHEREAS, special assistance may be required from the State to streamline the permitting process providing further incentives toward meeting the State's energy objectives of achieving dependable, efficient and economical statewide energy systems, increased energy self-sufficiency, greater energy security, and reduction of green house gas emissions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of creating a one-stop permit shop to expedite permit processing for renewable energy projects and to recommend changes, if any, that are needed to establish this streamlined permit process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is requested to submit its recommendations and draft legislation, if necessary, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted the Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DBEDT; Renewable Energy Projects; One-stop Permit Shop

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	164
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII