STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1217-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2902

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2902, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish certain standards for the use of portable solar generation devices and provide exemptions from net energy metering and interconnection requirements for devices that meet these standards;

(2) Prohibit electric utility companies from requiring customers using portable solar generation devices to obtain approval from the utility, pay any fee or charge, or install additional controls or equipment;

(3) Limit the installation of portable solar generation devices to condominiums;

(4) Require the Public Utilities Commission to establish and maintain an online system for registration of portable solar generation devices;

(5) Clarify that any person who owns, controls, operates, or manages a portable solar generation device that is located on the person's property does not qualify as a regulated public utility;

(6) Clarify that portable solar generation devices are subject to certain association board approval procedures for installation in condominiums; and

(7) Require the Public Utilities Commission to submit biannual reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Building Decarbonization Task Force of Hawaii Environmental Change Agents; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Life of the Land; Green Party of Hawaii; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; 350Hawaii.org; Greenpeace Hawaii; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Bright Saver; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Climate Future Forum; Citizens' Climate Lobby Hawaii; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Carbon Cashback Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative; and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the authorization for the installation of solar generation devices in condominiums applies to owned or rented units;

(2) Adding a deadline of December 31, 2026, for the Public Utilities Commission to determine certification standards;

(3) Removing provisions subjecting portable solar generation devices to certain association board approval procedures for installation in condominiums;

(4) Clarifying the reporting requirements of the Public Utilities Commission and reducing the frequency of the reports;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes the need for further consideration on the impact of removing the provisions requiring certain association board approval procedures for the installation of portable solar generation devices in condominiums and the appropriate mechanisms to replace these approval procedures.

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. 2902, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2902, 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