THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

194

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE STATE SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, CONSUMER ADVOCATE, AND STATE ENERGY OFFICE, TO DEVELOP A REPORT PERTAINING TO THE STATE'S MANAGEMENT OF GREENHOUSE GASES AND FOSSIL FUEL REDUCTION GOALS.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, climate change poses immediate and long-term threats to Hawaii's economy, sustainability, security, and way of life; and

 

WHEREAS, the Legislature previously enacted Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, to document the State's commitment to combat climate change by systematically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving Hawaii's resiliency to combat climate change by aligning with the principles and contributing to the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement and Hawaii's share of obligations within the expectations apportioned to the United States; and

 

WHEREAS, the Legislature established a Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Program pursuant to Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, requiring that by January 2020, the State reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to levels at or below the inventory of greenhouse gas estimates for 1990; and

 

WHEREAS, the Department of Health's Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report for 2016, published in December 2019, found Hawaii to be on track to meet its 2020 statewide emissions target; and

 

WHEREAS, section 225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, established the Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045; and

 

WHEREAS, section 225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that after January 1, 2020, agency plans, decisions, and strategies shall give consideration to the State's ability to achieve the goals of the Zero Emission Clean Economy Target; and

 

WHEREAS, the Legislature established the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission through section 225P-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

WHEREAS, section 26-15(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to manage and administer the public lands, various water and coastal areas, forests and forest reserves, aquatic life, wildlife resources, and state parks; and

 

WHEREAS, as a co-chair of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Director of the Office of Planning is generally required by section 225M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to engage in state comprehensive planning and program coordination; and

 

WHEREAS, the Legislature recently added responsibilities to the Office of Planning to provide statewide sustainability coordination and to revise and update the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan, pursuant to Act 146, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, which now serves as the State's climate and sustainability action plan; and

 

WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission is not a member of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, but is a regulating body and is required by section 269-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to consider the need to reduce the State's reliance on fossil fuels through energy efficiency and increased renewable energy generation; and

 

WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission is required to consider the costs and benefits of a diverse fossil fuel portfolio and of maximizing the efficiency of all electric utility assets to lower and stabilize the cost of electricity; and

 

WHEREAS, the Consumer Advocate is tasked with representing, protecting, and advancing the interest of all consumers and businesses regarding utility services; and

WHEREAS, the Consumer Advocate is required to consider the long-term benefits of renewable resources; and

 

WHEREAS, the Legislature recently established the Hawaii State Energy Office pursuant to Act 122, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation to help achieve a resilient clean energy economy; and

 

WHEREAS, the Office of Planning, Department of Land and Natural Resource, Public Utilities Commission, Consumer Advocate, and the Hawaii State Energy Office appear to have unclear jurisdiction as it relates to climate change, sustainability, and decarbonization; and

 

WHEREAS, the State and its departments and agencies must work collaboratively to protect Hawaii's interests to achieve these goals while preserving the natural environment, diversifying the economy, and ensuring the social equity of the people of Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS, the efforts to reduce greenhouse gases require planning, coordination, and action among all stakeholders, especially Hawaii's business community and private sector; and

 

WHEREAS, the Office of Planning published a report in 2019 on the Feasibility and Implications of Establishing a Carbon Offset Program for the State of Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Governor is requested to designate the State Sustainability Coordinator as the entity responsible for the State's management of greenhouse gas reduction goals; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Sustainability Coordinator is requested to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Public Utilities Commission, Consumer Advocate, Department of Health Greenhouse Gas Program, and the State Energy Office to develop a report pertaining to the State's management of greenhouse gases and fossil fuel reduction goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report is requested to include the following:

 

     (1)  Clear designations of agency roles as they relate to greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel reduction policies;

 

     (2)  Identification of potential conflicting relationships and solutions to those conflicts;

 

     (3)  Greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel reduction policy initiatives; and

 

     (4)  Recommended legislation to implement greenhouse gas emission and fossil fuel reduction goals; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Director of the Office of Planning and the State Sustainability Coordinator are requested to work with the Department of Health Greenhouse Gas Program, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii State Energy Office to hold public meetings related to the development of the report and to include relevant members from the business community and the public to observe and participate; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Sustainability Coordinator is requested to submit the report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chair of the Public Utilities Commission, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Environmental Health Administration, branch manager of the Clean Air Branch, Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Director of the Office of Planning, State Sustainability Coordinator, and Chief Energy Officer.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

State Sustainability Coordinator; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Public Utilities Commission; Consumer Advocate; Department of Health Greenhouse Gas Program; State Energy Office; Greenhouse Gases; Fossil Fuel