Bill Text: HI SB612 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Public Utilities; Geothermal Energy; Nonfossil Fuel Electricity; Curtailment

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-13 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN. [SB612 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB612-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 215

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 612

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 612 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CURTAILMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require agreements to purchase geothermal and non-fossil fuel energy to contain provisions that provide independent power producers with compensation for excessive curtailment.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Life of the Land, Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, and Indigenous Consultants LLC.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission and First Wind.

 

     Your Committee finds that the promotion of renewable energy production within the State is essential to the security and stability of Hawaii.  Energy costs in Hawaii are among the highest in the nation and independent producers of renewable energy are one of the keys to reducing energy costs and promoting energy independence.  Your Committee further finds that independent, renewable energy producers may overstate their prices if they have an expectation of being curtailed by the electric utility without compensation for the curtailment.  This measure will require electric utilities to provide compensation to independent producers of renewable energy for excessive curtailment, thereby promoting energy independence and furthering the State's economic and energy security.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 612, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 612, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

 

		____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair