STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2219-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 166

S.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.C.R. No. 166, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO MAKE CERTAIN JUDGMENTS, CONSIDERATIONS, AND DECISIONS WHEN MAKING ANY DETERMINATION RELATING TO A GENERATIONAL ENERGY COMMITMENT FOR THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission to make certain judgements, considerations, and decisions when making any determination relating to a generational energy commitment for the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi and Imua Alliance. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from JERA Americas. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiʻi State Energy Office; 350Hawaii.org; Greenpeace Hawaii; and Earthjustice.

Your Committee finds that large-scale investments in natural gas lack verifiable evidence of cost-effectiveness and pose significant financial risks to ratepayers. Your Committee further finds that committing to infrastructure that favors fossil fuels or high-cost energy sources may undermine the State's statutory goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by creating pressure to delay or weaken the 2045 renewable portfolio standards. This measure requests the Public Utilities Commission to employ independent, evidence-based judgment when reviewing generational energy commitments and to deprioritize liquefied natural gas proposals that threaten the integrity of Hawaii's long-term clean energy mandates.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 166, S.D. 1, and recommends that it 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