Bill Text: HI SB2331 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Renewable Energy; Agriculture

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-03-04 - (H) Referred to EEP/AGR, CPC, referral sheet 37 [SB2331 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2331-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2521

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2331

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2331, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to modify the renewable portfolio standards to specify that commencing after December 31, 2014, a minimum of two per cent of net electrical power generation must be met from renewable power generated by facilities utilizing agricultural energy.

 

     The measure also defines agricultural energy as energy produced:

 

     (1)  By a biofuel processing facility located in the State that produces more than 500,000 gallons of biofuel per year;

 

     (2)  Using commercial agricultural products or commodities produced in the State by a commercial agricultural enterprise that produces more than 1,000,000 pounds of such products or commodities per year; and

 

     (3)  By a commercial agricultural enterprise that produces more than 1,000,000 pounds of agricultural products or commodities per year.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.  Testimony commenting on this measure was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will strengthen Hawaii's agricultural and alternative fuels industry while decreasing the State's dependence on imported oil and non-renewable resources.  Your Committee recognizes that requiring the use of a particular type of fuel does not necessarily mean that sufficient local production of energy feedstock will develop and that whether sufficient agricultural energy is produced is beyond the electric utility company's control.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the renewable energy requirement that begins January 1, 2015 applies to net electrical power generation and not just to renewable portfolio standards;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the term agricultural energy producers includes facilities that commercially produce biofuels, food, feed, or wood products in tandem with the production of electrical power;

 

     (3)  Reducing the amount of production necessary to meet the qualifications for a commercial facility from 1,000,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds per year for facilities producing food, feed, or wood products;

 

     (4)  Changing the effective date of this measure to January 1, 2050 to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes to ensure clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2331, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2331, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

		____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair