Bill Text: HI SR92 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Geothermal-Generated Electricity; Island of Hawaii; Public Utilities Commission

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-16 - (S) Referred to ENE/CPN. [SR92 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SR92-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	92
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the public utilities commission to require hawaii electric LIGHT COMPANY, inc. TO DEVELOP A TIMELY ACTION PLAN TO RETIRE ALL DEPRECIATED OIL-FIRED POWER PLANTS ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII AND TRANSITION TO GEOTHERMAL-GENERATED ELECTRICITY AS THE ISLAND'S PRIMARY BASELOAD POWER SOURCE.

 

 

     WHEREAS, fossil fuel-dependent power generation facilities have destructive environmental and economic consequences; and

 

     WHEREAS, consumers on the Island of Hawaii pay one of the highest rates per kilowatt-hour in the State, and the rate is expected to continue to increase as the global oil situation further drives up the cost of fossil fuel; and

 

     WHEREAS, the use of indigenous, renewable geothermal energy to generate baseload electrical power reduces dependency on imported fossil fuels, reduces our carbon footprint and other environmental risks, and maintains or reduces electrical energy costs to consumers; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the past year, the Public Utilities Commission initiated new contractual procedures between Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) and Puna Geothermal Venture that are successfully reducing the kilowatt-hour cost of geothermal-generated power to consumers; and

 

     WHEREAS, all but one of HELCO's existing fossil fuel-dependent power generation facilities on the Island of Hawaii are fully depreciated but continue to be operated; and

 

     WHEREAS, Puna Geothermal Venture has demonstrated the safety and reliability of geothermal-generated electrical power on the Island of Hawaii for the past 18 years; and

 

     WHEREAS, geothermal power has also generated millions of dollars in royalty payments to the State, County of Hawaii, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency has recently directed all Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. companies, including HELCO, to retrofit existing oil-fired plants to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards; and

 

     WHEREAS, the new requirement by the Environmental Protection Agency will force continued usage of these plants and perpetuate a level of emissions and kilowatt-hour costs that exceed those of geothermal-powered plants; and

 

     WHEREAS, the costs of the Environmental Protection Agency requirement will be borne by consumers, but instead investments should be dedicated to a transition to environmentally and economically preferred geothermal power production and distribution; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to require HELCO to develop a timely plan to retire its fully depreciated fossil fuel power generation facilities and transfer to geothermal-generated electrical power as the primary baseload source; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that HELCO continue to develop other alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro, but to prioritize the development of geothermal-generated electricity to become the primary baseload source for the Island of Hawaii within the next five years; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission continue to implement contractual procedures between HELCO and geothermal power producers that represent an equitable return on investment and reduce the kilowatt-hour cost to consumers whenever possible; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, United States Congressional Delegation for Hawaii, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, County of Hawaii Planning Department, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Puna Geothermal Venture.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Geothermal-Generated Electricity; Island of Hawaii; Public Utilities Commission