Hawaii-2018-HB2460-Introduced

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the development of renewable microgrids can aid Hawaii's transition to a clean energy economy. In this context, a microgrid is a small energy network, interconnected with an electric utility grid, or utilizing an electric utility grid, which is powered by renewable energy, and which may be islanded from the electric utility grid if needed.

The legislature further finds that microgrids have the potential to be a testing ground for greater integration of renewable energy, distributed generation, storage, and demand response technology. Microgrid demonstration projects will enable the State to learn how to reduce costs, increase grid reliability and resiliency, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the cost of infrastructure, and increase the efficiency of transmission and distribution.

The purpose of this Act is to designate and establish requirements for a microgrid demonstration project at the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority that can assist in understanding, developing, and refining microgrid technologies and policies in the State.

SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§269- Microgrid demonstration project; natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority. (a) The property controlled by the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority, established pursuant to chapter 227D, is designated as a microgrid demonstration project.

(b) The microgrid demonstration project designated by this section:

(1) Shall be authorized by the public utilities commission;

(2) May cross property boundaries, easements, public thoroughfares, transportation rights-of-way, and utility rights-of-way solely within the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority property;

(3) May provide, sell, or transmit renewable energy to tenants or other users of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority other than the person who owns, controls, operates, or manages the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project;

(4) May use portions of an electric public utility's transmission or distribution lines to provide, sell, or transmit electricity to participants in the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project;

(5) Shall use electricity generation, located on the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project, with a total generating capacity of five megawatts or less;

(6) Shall use only renewable energy, as defined in section 269-91, to generate electricity, except in cases of emergency; and

(7) May be islanded from the electric public utility grid from time to time.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter, the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter, except as may be needed to facilitate safe interconnection of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project to an electric public utility grid. Any person who owns, controls, operates, manages, or otherwise participates in the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project shall not be considered a public utility for the purpose of participating in the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project.

(d) The public utilities commission may take any steps the commission deems necessary to enable and compel electric public utilities to allow the development of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project by non-utilities. These steps may include issuing related orders, amending or adopting related rules, working with permitting agencies or other authorities to grant exemptions, or other steps necessary to enable the development of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project.

(e) The natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project shall be exempt from any wheeling restrictions when the wheeling is conducted within the designated boundaries of the project.

(f) Any power that is sold by the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project shall be at a price equal to or less than the electric utility rates established by the public utilities commission.

(g) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019, the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project designated pursuant to subsection (a) shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations on the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project. At a minimum, the report shall contain information on:

(1) The fairness of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project to all customers given the increased options for obtaining electrical power;

(2) Any safety issues when operating the integrated energy district;

(3) Reliability of the overall electrical system in relation to the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project; and

(4) Any cost shifting issues realized as a result of electrical energy being provided by the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project.

(h) For the purposes of this section, the "natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority microgrid demonstration project" means a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the utility's electrical grid and can connect to a public utility's electrical grid to operate in grid-connected mode and can disconnect from the grid to operate in island mode, and generates and produces energy, that is solely located on property owned by the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

INTRODUCED BY:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2460
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII