Bill Text: HI SR11 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-18 - The committee on CPH deferred the measure. [SR11 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SR11-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

11

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

expressing the Legislature's recognition of Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative's organizational efforts and desire to bring the benefits of the cooperative form of ownership to the critical electric utility infrastructure OF Hawaii island and REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO assess the feasibility of APPROVING an energy cooperative model for Hawaii island.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative is a non-profit cooperative association formed by community and business leaders on Hawaii Island to explore the potential merits of a community-based, cooperative ownership structure for electric utility service on the Big Island; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative is a non-profit cooperative association organized under chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to consumer cooperative associations; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative's purpose is to:

 

     (1)  Supply, produce, generate, purchase, market, sell, promote the use of, and transmit or distribute electric energy and other forms of energy; and

 

     (2)  Provide services relating to or incidental to paragraph (1); and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative is made up of leaders on the Island of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative is pursuing the potential merits of a cooperative ownership structure for electric utility service on the Island of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, section 269-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, defines an "electric cooperative" as a cooperative association or entity that is:

 

     (1)  Owned by its members;

 

     (2)  Formed pursuant to chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

     (3)  Operated on a not-for-profit basis;

 

     (4)  Authorized pursuant to a legislatively granted franchise or other legislative authority to manufacture, sell, furnish, and supply electric light, electric current, or electric power to its members or a designated service area; and

 

     (5)  Governed by a board of directors who are members of the electric cooperative and who are democratically elected by members of the electric cooperative pursuant to applicable bylaws; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative has the potential to highlight the benefits of cooperative ownership as compared to shareholder ownership, including:

 

     (1)  Local, democratic control over critical infrastructures and public institutions on the Hawaii Island;

 

     (2)  Community-based and community-chosen priorities;

 

     (3)  Potentially lower electricity costs through tax-exempt status;

 

     (4)  Improved and greater overall energy independence and sustainability; and

 

     (5)  Development of and emphasis on island-produced fuels to provide an energy source for electric generation and transportation sectors; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that the Legislature expresses its recognition of Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative's organizational efforts and desire to bring the benefits of a cooperative form of ownership to the critical electric utility infrastructure of Hawaii Island; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to consider the feasibility of approving an energy cooperative model for Hawaii Island; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative

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