Report Title:

Utility Lines; Construction Moratorium; Advisory Committee

Description:

Establishes a three-year moratorium on the construction and installation of forty-six kilovolt or greater high-voltage electric transmission lines. Establishes an advisory committee to develop a statewide utility undergrounding plan and submit reports (interim: 2004, final: 2005).

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

599

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to utility lines.

 

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

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, upon the effective date of this Act and for a period of three years thereafter, there is established a moratorium on the construction of any new overhead forty-six kilovolt or greater high-voltage electric transmission system. This moratorium shall not apply to the repair, maintenance, or replacement of any existing forty-six kilovolt or greater electric transmission system.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes only, and not subject to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, a utility lines advisory committee to develop a comprehensive statewide plan for the undergrounding of utility lines.

(b) The utility lines advisory committee shall be composed of the following twenty-one members:

(1) Eight members appointed by the governor from the following:

(A) The office of planning of the department of business, economic development, and tourism;

(B) Public utilities commission;

(C) Department of land and natural resources;

(D) Department of health;

(E) City and county of Honolulu;

(F) Hawaii county;

(G) Maui county; and

(H) Kauai county;

(2) Eight members appointed by the governor from the:

(A) Telecommunications industry;

(B) Cable television industry;

(C) Electric utility industry;

(D) Natural gas industry;

(E) Wastewater industry;

(F) Environmental protection organizations;

(G) Organized labor; and

(H) Business organizations; and

(3) Five members representing utility consumers appointed by the consumer advocate.

(c) The advisory committee shall:

(1) Identify issues and policies related to the underground placement of utility lines including but not limited to cost, public health and safety, cultural concerns, environmental concerns, and aesthetics;

(2) Review the policies and laws of other jurisdictions; and

(3) Develop a comprehensive statewide plan for the undergrounding of utility lines.

(d) The advisory committee shall perform its duties as follows:

(1) Members shall serve without compensation; provided that members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties;

(2) A simple majority of the members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and all actions of the advisory committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present; and

(3) The advisory committee may hold public hearings as frequently as deemed necessary and feasible to receive testimony on issues relative to its investigation.

(e) The advisory committee shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2004. The advisory committee shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2005.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the development of a statewide plan for undergrounding utilities.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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