STAND. COM. REP. NO. 822-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1637

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1637, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize a county to impose an annual in-lieu fee on land or improvements on land that are actively used to produce or store renewable energy that is sold to an electric utility, under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and Clearway Energy Group. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services of the City and County of Honolulu. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

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 H.B. No. 1637, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair