STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1581

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 89

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 89 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A STRATEGIC PLAN TO INCREASE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND CREATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT BASED ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State Energy Office, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, to create and implement a strategic plan to increase renewable energy and local food production and create an economic impact report.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Public Health Association, Lapa‘au Farm, and four individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that the State currently imports fossil fuels and is highly dependent on foreign imports. In order to decrease the State's dependency on fossil fuels and foreign imports, Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, established the electric renewable portfolio standard of one hundred percent of net electricity sales by 2045, and the Governor has set a goal of doubling local food production by 2020. Your Committees also find that utility-scale solar developments in Hawaii need to increase to reach the one hundred percent renewable portfolio standard but the State has not yet developed a long-term strategic plan to achieve one hundred percent renewable electricity. Renewable energy developments will require thousands of acres of flat land that are close to major transmission lines to keep infrastructure costs low.

Your Committees further find that the Department of Agriculture has not yet developed a strategic plan that incorporates renewable energy development in its plans and policies to increase local food production. Your Committees find that the State must entertain alternatives to its current agricultural operations that increase agricultural production.

This measure requests the State Energy Office and Department of Agriculture to implement a strategic plan to increase renewable energy and local food production and create an economic impact report.

Your Committees have amended this measure by updating the findings to more accurately and completely describe the current situation and needs to increase local agricultural production.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 89, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 89, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair