STAND. COM. REP. NO.  493

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 264

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 264 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote the development and grid-integration of renewable energy in Hawaii by requiring the Public Utilities Commission to establish, by rules adopted pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, a process to establish integrated energy districts.

 

     The Renewable Energy Action Coalition of Hawaii supported this measure.  The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs supported the intent of the measure.  The Public Utilities Commission submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the requirement that the Public Utilities Commission adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in order to establish integrated energy districts and replacing it with a directive to the Public Utilities Commission to open a proceeding by July 1, 2016, for that purpose; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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 H.B. No. 264, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 264, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair