Bill Text: HI HB285 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Renewable Energy; Wave Energy

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB285 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB285-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  521

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 285

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 285 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage the research of wave and ocean thermal energy as renewable energies by directing the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to provide any necessary assistance and expedite any request for permits or other approvals required by the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and the Hawaiian Electric Company utility companies in:

 

     (1)  The development of the clean energy scenario plan; and

 

     (2)  The identification and designation of one or more renewable energy zones for wave energy conversion platforms,

 

for the development of commercial sources of wave energy for electric consumers on Oahu.

 

     DBEDT, DLNR, SG2 Americas, LLC, Re vision Consulting, LLC, Wavebob, LLC, Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Life of the Land, Blue Planet Foundation, Natural Power Concepts, Wavegen, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. 

 

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Removing PUC as one of the agencies directed to carry out the provisions of the bill;

 

     (2)  Specifying that DBEDT and DLNR are directed to provide coordination for permits or approvals, rather than expedite such requests;

 

     (3)  Expanding the provisions of the bill to apply to permits or approvals required by any Hawaii utility company, rather than just the Hawaiian Electric Company utility companies;

 

     (4)  Expanding the identification and designation of renewable energy zones to waters of the State of Hawaii, rather than just the waters around Oahu;

 

     (5)  Providing for the identification and designation of renewable energy zones for wave energy conversion platforms or hubs, rather than only platforms;

 

     (6)  Specifying that the purpose of establishing wave energy conversion platforms or hubs is to develop wave energy, generally rather than commercially, as a renewable energy source for the state; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 285, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

 

 

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair		____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair