Bill Text: HI SB661 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Renewable Energy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-01-25 - Referred to EET, WAM. [SB661 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-SB661-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
661 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature also finds that section 225P-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishes a zero emissions clean economy target to sequester more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than emitted within the State as quickly as practicable, but no later than 2045.
The legislature finds that no comprehensive strategic plan currently exists for the attainment of either of these goals and that the continued installation of variable renewable sources, such as solar and wind, is not dependable in the event of adverse weather conditions.
The legislature further finds that the Hawaii state energy office is most suited to take on the task of working with the legislature; office of the governor; public utilities commission; and Hawaii's energy and broader stakeholders to envision and explain how Hawaii's several related statutes regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency, dependability, and zero emissions clean economy targets will be synthesized and achieved.
The purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii state energy office to conduct a feasibility study and develop a strategic plan that outlines benchmarks to meet the requirements of section 269-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in establishing a dependable one hundred per cent renewable energy portfolio standard.
SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii state energy office shall conduct a feasibility study on the State's ability to achieve its goal of producing one hundred per cent of the State's electricity from renewable energy sources by December 31, 2045; provided that if the current renewable energy standards are not achievable, the study shall estimate the percentage that is realistically achievable by December 31, 2045.
(b)
The Hawaii state energy office shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.
SECTION 3. (a) The Hawaii state energy office shall establish a strategic plan that identifies clear benchmarks to:
(1) Attain the goal of one hundred per cent energy self-sufficiency by December 31, 2045, including the temporary use of alternative fuels that may be used as bridge fuels;
(2) Provide clarity for utilities, utility-scale developers, and energy distributors for achieving the benchmarks described in paragraph (1); and
(3) Provide guidance for utilities distributors for the acquisition, timing, size, and duration of firm renewable generation to back up disruptions of variable renewable sources.
(b) The strategic plan shall identify benchmarks that are quantitatively and qualitatively measurable and metrics to determine progress toward attaining the goal of one hundred per cent energy self-sufficiency by December 31, 2045; provided that the strategic plan shall include the capability to provide electric service under diminished production of variable renewable sources.
(c) The strategic plan shall contain a meteorological forecast of the probable weather events that can be expected to affect the State in the next one hundred years that accounts for the forecasts caused by climate change; provided that the Hawaii state energy office shall engage with the University of Hawaii and outside consultants as necessary to produce the meteorological forecast. The strategic plan shall recommend the most likely disruption scenarios, including hurricanes, and the most likely levels of disruption caused, in a form that will allow the public utilities commission and the electric utilities to plan to have an alternate renewable generation capacity available on a timely basis.
(d) The Hawaii state energy office shall submit its strategic plan, including proposed strategies, benchmarks, and metrics, and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Energy; Renewable Energy; Feasibility Study; Strategic Plan; Renewable Dependability; Hawaii State Energy Office; Meteorological Forecast; University of Hawaii; Report
Description:
Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a feasibility study on the State's ability to achieve its renewable energy goals by 2045 and to submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop a strategic plan that outlines benchmarks to achieve a one hundred per cent renewable energy portfolio standard and to submit the strategic plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
