STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1609

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1050

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 3

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the community-based renewable energy program by:

     (1)  Requiring electric utilities to file a proposed community-based renewable energy tariff with the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) by October 1, 2015;

     (2)  Requiring the Commission to establish a community-based renewable energy tariff;

     (3)  Defining the types of projects that qualify as a community-based renewable energy project; and

     (4)  Defining "community-based renewable energy tariff".

The Hawaii Green Growth; Ulupono Initiative; 350Hawaii; and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Public Utilities Commission; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiian Electric Company; Maui Electric Company; Hawaii Electric Light Company; Clean Energy Collective; Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; and Blue Planet Foundation commented on this measure.   

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that this measure applies to a community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs;

     (2)  Clarifying that the owner or operator of the eligible community-based renewable energy project or projects must comply with all applicable statutes, rules, tariffs, and regulations governing the ownership and interconnection of the project or projects;

     (3)  Clarifying that the types of projects that qualify as an eligible community-based renewable energy project are projects that generate or produce renewable energy as defined in section 269-91, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1050, S.D. 2, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair