STAND. COM. REP. NO.653

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 527

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 527 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND USE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize counties to permit solar energy facilities in State Land Use Agricultural Districts.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Office of Planning, the Land Use Commission, the Hawaii County Planning Department, and the Hawaiian Electric Company.

Your Committee finds that wind machines and wind farms that are compatible with agricultural uses and cause minimal adverse impact on agricultural land, already are permissible uses in agricultural districts. Your Committee believes that solar energy facilities meeting those criteria should be treated the same and that including such use in agricultural districts would be consistent with existing law.

Your Committee also finds that solar energy facilities may hold some advantages over wind energy facilities. For example, solar facilities are quiet, with no moving parts, and while the initial cost may be high, there may be tax credits to offset the cost and operating costs may be extremely low.

 

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 527 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair