STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2145

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2122

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2122 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend the State's energy efficiency portfolio standards from 2030 to 2045 and to further develop and clarify procedures for the energy-efficiency portfolio standards established and overseen by the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaiʻi Energy, Hawaiian Electric, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Energy and Climate Action Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, 350Hawaii, Wild Kids, and eight individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that as the State progresses toward its renewable energy and decarbonization goals, improving energy efficiency remains the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions associated with electricity generation and consumption, while providing financial benefits for customers. Act 155, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, codified energy efficiency goals through the establishment of an energy-efficiency portfolio standard. Fifteen years later, your Committee further finds that it is appropriate to extend these energy efficiency goals and ensure that the Public Utilities Commission may continue its work developing and overseeing the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standards beyond 2030.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2122, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2122, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair