STAND. COM. REP. NO.  963

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1050

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make the benefits of renewable energy more accessible to a greater number of Hawaii residents by, among other things:

     (1)  Requiring the Public Utilities Commission to establish a community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs, to take effect no later than January 1, 2016;

     (2)  Requiring that community-based renewable energy projects:

          (A)  Equal to or less than one megawatt in size be subject to streamlined and standardized interconnection approval processes established by the Public Utilities Commission; and

          (B)  Greater than one megawatt in size be subject to the Public Utilities Commission's individualized review and approval;

     (3)  Allowing an electric utility to develop and implement its own community-based renewable energy project or projects, as long as the project or projects are subject to the Public Utilities Commission's review and approval; and

     (4)  Requiring that the community-based renewable energy tariff and related interconnection processes be, to the extent possible, standardized.

The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii PV Coalition, and numerous concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Public Utilities Commission supported the intent of the measure.  The Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance supported the measure with amendments.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, and Clean Energy Collective submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to take effect upon its approval; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair