Bill Text: HI HB1821 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1821 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Energy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-26 - Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 2 [HB1821 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1821-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1821
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to energy.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that at the COP26 climate conference in Scotland in 2021, the United States, along with other nations, committed to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius to avoid some, but not all, of the threats posed by climate change. The legislature also finds that renewable energy projects should produce less carbon than the projects avoid.

The legislature notes that on November 5, 2021, Hawaiian Electric Company announced a goal to cut carbon emissions from power generation by seventy per cent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. The reduction goal includes generation owned by Hawaiian Electric Company and independent power producers who sell electricity to the utility. The legislature recognizes that Hawaiian Electric Company has also committed to achieving net zero or net negative carbon emissions from power generation by 2045 or sooner, which means that any emissions produced will be captured or offset. The legislature believes that this goal is a commendable objective. The legislature further finds that pursuant to chapter 225P, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the State has a goal to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Include as an objective in energy-related planning for the State's facility systems that all new utility scale electricity generation projects be renewable;

(2) Include state policies that ensure short- and long-term provision of adequate, reasonably priced, and dependable renewable energy services, prioritizing the dispatch of renewable energy generation;

(3) Update the State's policies to ensure that all new utility scale electricity generation projects are renewable, prioritize renewable energy generation, and include the use of non-fossil fuel sources in the development or expansion of energy systems; and

(4) Appropriate moneys for the natural energy institute at the university of Hawaii to study the costs of dispatching renewable energy resources.

SECTION 2. Section 226-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§226-18 Objectives and policies for facility systems--energy. (a) Planning for the State's facility systems with regard to energy shall be directed toward the achievement of the following objectives, giving due consideration to all:

(1) Dependable, efficient, and economical statewide energy systems capable of supporting the needs of the people;

(2) Increased energy security and self-sufficiency through the reduction and ultimate elimination of Hawaii's dependence on imported fuels for electrical generation and ground transportation;

(3) Greater diversification of energy generation in the face of threats to Hawaii's energy supplies and systems;

(4) Reduction, avoidance, or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions from energy supply and use[;] by ensuring that all new utility scale electricity generation projects shall be renewable; and

(5) Utility models that make the social and financial interests of Hawaii's utility customers a priority.

(b) To achieve the energy objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to ensure the short- and long-term provision of adequate, reasonably priced, and dependable renewable energy services to accommodate demand.

(1) Support research and development as well as promote the use of renewable energy sources;

(2) Ensure that the combination of energy supplies and energy-saving systems is sufficient to support the demands of growth[;] while prioritizing the dispatch of renewable energy generation;

(3) Base decisions of least-cost supply-side and demand-side energy resource options on a comparison of their total costs and benefits when a least-cost is determined by a reasonably comprehensive, quantitative, and qualitative accounting of their long-term, direct and indirect economic, environmental, social, cultural, and public health costs and benefits[;], including but not limited to the benefits of non-fossil fuel sources to maximize the reduction in consumption of fossil fuels;

(4) Promote all cost-effective conservation of power and fuel supplies through measures, including:

(A) Development of cost-effective demand-side management programs;

(B) Education;

(D) Increasing energy efficiency and decreasing energy use in public infrastructure;

(5) Ensure, to the extent that new supply-side resources are needed, that the development or expansion of energy systems uses [~~the least-cost energy supply option and~~] non-fossil fuel sources, maximizes efficient technologies[;], and considers the least-cost energy supply option;

(6) Support research, development, demonstration, and use of energy efficiency, load management, and other demand-side management programs, practices, and technologies;

(7) Promote alternate fuels and transportation energy efficiency;

(8) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gases in utility, transportation, and industrial sector applications;

(9) Support actions that reduce, avoid, or sequester Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions through agriculture and forestry initiatives;

(10) Provide priority handling and processing for all state and county permits required for renewable energy projects;

(11) Ensure that liquefied natural gas is used only as a cost-effective transitional, limited-term replacement of petroleum for electricity generation and does not impede the development and use of other cost-effective renewable energy sources; and

(12) Promote the development of indigenous geothermal energy resources that are located on public trust land as an affordable and reliable source of firm power for Hawaii."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the Hawaii natural energy institute to evaluate the benefits and costs of dispatching renewable energy resources.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Hawaii Natural Energy Institute; Renewable Energy; Utility Scale Electricity Generating Projects

Description:

Includes as an objective in energy-related planning for the State's facility systems that all new utility scale electricity generation projects be renewable. Includes state policies that ensure short- and long-term provision of adequate, reasonably priced, and dependable renewable energy services, prioritizing the dispatch of renewable energy generation. Updates the State's policies to ensure that all new utility scale electricity generation projects are renewable, prioritize renewable energy generation, and include the use of non-fossil fuel sources in the development or expansion of energy systems. Appropriates moneys.

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