Bill Text: HI SB3044 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 3044 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Transitional Energy Working Group

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-19 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB3044 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SB3044-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3044
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
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 Hawaii's dependency on imported fossil fuels drains the State's economy of billions of dollars each year. A stronger local economy depends on a transition away from imported fossil fuel powered ground transportation and toward multi-modal transportation systems powered by renewable local energy resources.

The legislature also finds that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of Hawaii. The potential adverse impacts of climate change include the exacerbation of air quality problems, a reduction in the quality and supply of water, a rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of coastal businesses and residences, damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment, and an increase in the incidences of infectious diseases, asthma, and other human health-related problems.

The legislature further finds that climate change will have detrimental effects on some of Hawaii's largest industries, including tourism, agriculture, and recreational and commercial fishing. It will also increase the strain on electricity supplies necessary to meet the increased demand for air-conditioning in the state.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a transitional energy working group to be administratively placed within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, to lay the foundation for future renewable energy development that transitions the State away from fossil fuels and to one hundred per cent clean electricity in general, beginning with the transportation sector.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a transitional energy working group to be administratively placed within the department of business, economic development, and tourism. The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee shall serve as the chair of the working group.

(b) Members of the working group shall include transportation stakeholders, as selected by the director of business, economic development, and tourism; provided that the director of transportation or the director's designee shall be an ex officio member; provided further that a representative of the Blue Planet Foundation shall serve as a member.

(c) The transitional energy working group shall endeavor to lay the foundation for future renewable energy development that transitions the State away from fossil fuels and to one hundred per cent clean electricity in general, beginning with the transportation sector. The transitional energy working group shall consider, at minimum, the following issues:

(1) Increasing the curtailment of electricity use;

(2) Increasing peak time electricity shaving;

(3) Increasing the prevalence of solar energy storage systems, including storage for photovoltaic energy;

(4) Eliminating petroleum as fuel for ground transportation, as well as a plan and a timetable for the department of transportation to implement the use of alternative energy for its fleet of vehicles; provided that the working group shall consider a cost/benefit analysis and review driving policies and infrastructure requirements to determine reasonable targets and timeframes; and

(5) The feasibility of achieving one hundred per cent renewable portfolio standards by December 31, 2045, including a determination of the requirements to achieve that goal, as well as a plan and timetable for achieving that goal.

(d) The transitional energy working group may review and update any past reports or studies from relevant task forces, including the refineries task force and transportation energy analysis report.

(e) Members of the transitional energy working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(f) The transitional energy working group shall report to the legislature on its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, as follows:

(1) A preliminary report no later than January 15, 2017; and

(2) A final report no later than January 15, 2018;

(g) The transitional energy working group shall cease to exist on the day after filing its final report.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

Report Title:

Transitional Energy Working Group

Description:

Establishes the transitional energy working group within DBEDT to lay the foundation for future renewable energy development that transitions the State away from fossil fuels and to one hundred per cent clean electricity in general, beginning with the transportation sector. Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.