STAND. COM. REP. NO. 289-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1523

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1523 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exclude the installation of roof-mounted photovoltaic or solar water heater systems from mandatory review under chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by the State Historic Preservation Division.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that renewable energy is critical in protecting Hawaii's environment and securing the State's clean energy future. Adding renewable energy technology to historical buildings may aid in their preservation by lowering carbon emissions and helping the State achieve its renewable energy goals.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2100, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1523, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1523, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair