STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2307

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2650

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2650 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for the continued exploration and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaiian Electric; Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi; Ulupono Initiative; Hoʻomana Pono, LLC; Tigershark, LLC; and seven individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals.

Your Committees find that geothermal resources can provide stable power and community benefits, while also being a viable alternative to biofuels. Furthermore, there may be geothermal resources present on Hawaiian Home Lands. This measure will appropriate funds for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to gather more information and to investigate suspected hot spots of geothermal activity.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an unspecified appropriation amount; and

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

Your Committees note that the original appropriation amount of $6,000,000 is the approximate amount required for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to continue exploration and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian Home Lands. Your Committees also note the concerns that exploration and identification of geothermal resources will damage Native Hawaiian cultural sites and burial sites, and that the requisite infrastructure and regulatory safeguards are not yet in place to ensure the safety of affected communities. Your Committees respectfully request that these issues be considered by subsequent committees should they choose to deliberate on this measure as it progresses through the legislative process.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2650, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2650, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair