STAND. COM. REP. NO. 11

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 560

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 560 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2021, require the Public Utilities Commission to provide for timely review in its decision-making process regarding proposed renewable energy projects; and

(2) Require the timely completion of the interconnection process by electric public utilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Life of the Land, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and Climate Protectors Coalition. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee finds that in order to move the State closer to its carbon negative target as soon as possible, continual progress and the timely approval, commencement of construction, and completion of renewable energy projects are critical. Facilitating the timing for the interconnection process by electric public utilities will help to decrease electricity rates for consumers, assist the State in achieving its renewable portfolio standards goals in a timely manner, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the Public Utilities Commission to provide for timely review in its decision-making process regarding proposed renewable energy projects, including related findings;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 H.B. No. 560, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 560, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair