Report Title:

Renewable energy; geothermal; land acquisition; GO bonds

Description:

Authorizes the issuance general obligation bonds for the purchase of land known as Wai Kele O Puna for possible future geothermal development.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1617

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to land use.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Hawaii is critically dependent on imported oil, which supplies approximately ninety per cent of Hawaii's energy needs. No place else within the United States is as critically dependent on imported oil than Hawaii. The legislature finds that the time has come for the State to look towards the development of alternative, renewable energy resources to meet the energy needs of today and the future.

Geothermal energy is a clean, readily available, homegrown, renewable energy resource that is available in large quantities in Hawaii. More importantly, considering the natural beauty of Hawaii's environment, this energy resource offers many environmental advantages over conventional power generation.

This energy resource is not new to Hawaii. Geothermal energy provides almost twenty per cent of the energy needs on the island of Hawaii. However, it can be a bigger part of the energy future of Hawaii, in conjunction with other alternative energy sources.

One area that has the potential to further expand Hawaii's geothermal energy capacity is the area known as Wai Kele O Puna on the island of Hawaii. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to acquire the Wai Kele O Puna land from Campbell Estate.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the purchase of lands on the island of Hawaii for future exploration and development of geothermal and other renewable energy resources.

SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2003-2004 for the purpose of financing the purchase by voluntary sale or through eminent domain acquisition of land known as Wai Kele O Puna and identified as TMK: (3)1-2-10:001; (3) 1-2-10:002; (3) 1-2-10:003; (3) 1-1-01:16; (3) 1-1-01:17; and (3) 1-1-01:20.

SECTION 3. The appropriations authorized in this Act shall not lapse at the end on the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided that all appropriations which are unencumbered as of June 30, 2006, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated in section 2 of this Act shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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