STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1259

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1154

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1154, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize government agencies to wheel electricity that is produced by their own facilities from renewable energy sources, subject to certain conditions determined by the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Ulupono Initiative and Blue Planet Foundation. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Life of the Land, Hawaiian Electric, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260.

Your Committee finds that due to the rising price of electricity, many state departments and agencies face severe cost shortfalls. Your Committee further finds that readily available renewable energy is not being utilized because government agencies are not authorized to wheel electricity that is produced by their own facilities, which could lower electric bills for government agencies. This measure encourages the production of clean energy in the State and further supports the State's renewable energy goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Instead of authorizing intergovernmental wheeling, requiring the Public Utilities Commission to open a docket and set a procedural schedule to determine whether and by which rules a government agency may engage in wheeling of electricity produced at its own facilities from renewable sources;

(2) Clarifying the objectives of the docket;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 S.B. No. 1154, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1154, S.D. 2, 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