STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1338

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 593

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 593, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the development of utility scale solar projects on class A agricultural lands, subject to certain restrictions.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Clean Power Alliance and five individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Planning; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Sierra Club of Hawaii; Hawaii Farmers Union United; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Maui School Garden Network; Hawaii Interfaith Power & Light; 350.org; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaii's Thousand Friends; Organizing for Action; and fourteen individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Ulupono Initiative.

 

     Your Committees find that energy costs can be a limiting factor that reduces the profitability of many of the State's farmers and ranchers, especially considering the high costs of energy in Hawaii as compared to the rest of the country.  Your Committees find that permitting utility scale solar projects in state agricultural districts on class A lands could support Hawaii's agricultural industry by providing clean energy at a fixed cost for on-site agricultural operations, provided that the projects further agricultural activities.  Your Committees find that utility scale solar projects contribute to the public welfare and that the ideal location for these projects is near high voltage electric lines because this location minimizes the costs of interconnection and transmission, thereby providing savings for ratepayers.  Your Committees also find that clean energy at reduced costs is necessary for the sustainability of the State and future generations.  This measure would allow for utility scale solar projects in prime locations in furtherance of the State's renewable energy goals.

 

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making it effective upon approval; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     Your Committees request that the Department of Agriculture provide your Committees with details of the inventory of class A agricultural lands specifying how many acres are currently in production and how many acres are currently fallow.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 593, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 593, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair