SB 700: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State has long recognized its responsibility to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made emergencies, which can result in extreme peril to life, property, and the resources of the State, and generally to protect the health and safety and preserve the lives and property of the people of the State.  In 2021, the legislature made history by becoming the first state in the nation to declare a climate emergency.  S.C.R. No. 44, S.D. 1, H.D. 1 (2021), acknowledged that an existential climate emergency threatens humanity and the natural world, declared a climate emergency, and requested statewide collaboration toward an immediate, just transition and emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe climate.  The resolution requested that entities statewide pursue these climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and mobilize at the necessary scale and speed.

     The legislature further finds that the growing climate crisis threatens the health and well-being of the public through the impacts of extreme weather events.  Most recently, the horrific losses caused by the 2023 Maui wildfires clearly demonstrated the need for the State to reduce wildfire ignition risk and build grid resiliency, which can be significantly aided by distributed rooftop solar and energy storage.  Stronger storms as a result of climate change are more likely to cause power outages and down power lines and, in addition to the risk of sparking wildfires, can be costly in terms of lives lost, economic impact, and effects on public health.  Furthermore, extreme weather events can result in severe damage to port infrastructure at the State's harbors, resulting in disruption and ceasing of port activity, and cutting off the ability of cargo shipments, including emergency supplies, to be received.  Therefore, the legislature finds that building the State's resilience against the effects of climate change is in the best interests of the people of Hawaii.

     To ensure that preparations within the State will be adequate to deal with these emergencies, particularly in situations where there has been disruption to the electric grid and port activity, the legislature finds that state agencies should have the ability to have full-functioning capabilities toward recovery efforts.  Maintaining electricity at state facilities is therefore paramount in these recovery efforts.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii state energy office, with assistance from applicable state departments, to assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency and submit a report of the office's findings.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The Hawaii state energy office shall collaborate with state agencies to assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs, which may be located at public or private facilities, and when feasible, shall utilize renewable energy, that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency.

     (b)  The Hawaii state energy office shall submit a report of the findings and recommendations of the feasibility study, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

     (c)  For purposes of this section, "resilience hub" means any facility that is open to the general public for the purpose of providing emergency response services, including but not limited to shelter, food, water, medicine, emergency or urgent care medical services, energy, electricity, telecommunications, internet access, fuel, and electric vehicle charging."

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect January 1, 2491.

Report Title:

HSEO; Renewable Energy; State Facilities; Resilience Hubs; Feasibility; Report

Description:

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in collaboration with state departments, to assess the potential and feasibility of developing resilience hubs that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Effective 1/1/2491.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to renewable energy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the installation of on-site, distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar and battery storage, is not only one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with electricity generation and consumption, but also provides affordable and resilient power for the State's energy system users.  Energy used to power buildings accounts for more than fifty per cent of the electricity consumed in the State, yet the State has not undertaken efforts to maximize on-site renewable generation at many of its own facilities, forgoing millions of dollars in potential savings.

     With one of the State's primary areas of focus being economic recovery and resilience in the wake of the August 2023 Maui wildfires and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature recognizes the importance of elevating the State's growing clean energy industry, which can diversify the economy, create new jobs, contribute to workforce development, and help the State meet critical energy goals.  The legislature also finds that it is imperative for all state agencies to control their energy usage and lower their utility bills in the interest of being responsible with taxpayer dollars.

     Further, the State has long recognized its responsibility to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made emergencies, which can result in extreme peril to life, property, and the resources of the State, and generally to protect the health and safety and preserve the lives and property of the people of the State.  In 2021, the legislature made history by becoming the first state in the nation to declare a climate emergency.  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 44, S.D. 1, H.D. 1 (2021), acknowledges that an existential climate emergency threatens humanity and the natural world, declares a climate emergency, and requests statewide collaboration toward an immediate, just transition and emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe climate; and resolves that entities statewide are requested to pursue these climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and mobilize at the necessary scale and speed.

     The legislature further finds that the growing climate crisis threatens health and well-being through the impacts of extreme weather events.  Most recently, the horrific losses caused by the August 2023 Maui wildfires clearly demonstrate the need for the State to reduce wildfire ignition risk and build grid resiliency, which can be significantly aided by distributed rooftop solar and energy storage.  Stronger storms as a result of climate change are more likely to cause power outages and down power lines, and in addition to the risk of sparking wildfires, can be costly in terms of lives lost, economic impact, and public health.  In addition, extreme weather events can result in severe damage to port infrastructure at the State's harbors, resulting in disruption and ceasing of port activity, and cutting off the ability of cargo shipments, including emergency supplies, to be received.  The legislature finds that building the State's resilience against the effects of climate change is in the best interests of the people of Hawaii.

     To ensure that preparations within the State will be adequate to deal with such emergencies, particularly in situations where there has been disruption to the electric grid and port activity, the legislature finds that state agencies, and in particular, first responders, should have the ability to have full-functioning capabilities toward recovery efforts.  Maintaining electricity at facilities, especially of first responders, is therefore paramount in these recovery efforts.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of accounting and general services to assess the potential and feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state facility and submit a report to the legislature detailing the department's findings;

     (2)  Require state facilities to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the required reports no later than five years from the issue date of the reports;

     (3)  Require applicable agencies to assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency; and

     (4)  Assign priority for the required state facilities' cost-effective energy efficiency measures to first responder facilities.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§196-    Distributed energy resource installation for state facilities.  (a)  The department of accounting and general services shall assess the potential and feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each facility and shall submit a report to the legislature, detailing the department's findings as follows:

     (1)  Beginning on January 1, 2026, for all facilities that have not implemented section 36-41 since 2010; and

     (2)  Beginning on January 1, 2028, for all other facilities.

     (b)  Each agency shall implement and install the distributed energy resource systems at the facilities detailed in the reports under subsection (a) no later than five years from the issue date of the reports; provided that no agency shall claim tax credits or deductions, or depreciate assets under title 14, for implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measures pursuant to this section; provided further that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the agencies from implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measures at the facilities sooner than indicated under subsection (a)(1) or (2).

     (c)  Applicable agencies shall assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs, which may be located at public or private facilities, and when feasible, shall be equipped with distributed energy resource systems, that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency.

     (d)  Priority for measures described in subsections (a) and (b) shall be given to first responder facilities.

     (e)  For purposes of this section:

     "Cost-effective energy efficiency measure" means any energy efficiency measure where the cost of the energy efficiency measure is equal to or less than the estimated savings over a period of twenty years or the life of the installed components, whichever is less.

     "Distributed energy resource system" means an assembly of energy generating or energy storing materials, or any combined assembly of solar energy generating and energy storing materials, sited at or on a facility and the related infrastructure necessary for its operation.

     "Energy efficiency measure" means any energy services, projects, and equipment, including but not limited to building or facility energy conservation enhancing, demand management, or demand response retrofits, which may include energy saved offsite by water or other utility enhancing retrofits, to improve the energy efficiency or reduce the energy costs of the facility.

     "First responder" includes a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or other individual who, in the course of the individual's professional duties, responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emergencies.

     "Resilience hub" means any facility that is open to the general public for the purpose of providing emergency response services, including but not limited to shelter, food, water, medicine, emergency or urgent care medical services, energy, electricity, telecommunications, internet access, fuel, and electric vehicle charging."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DAGS; Renewable Energy; State Facilities; First Responder Facilities; Distributed Energy Resource Systems; Resilience Hubs; Feasibility; Reports

Description:

Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to assess the potential and feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state facility and submit reports to the Legislature detailing the department's findings.  Requires state facilities to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the required reports no later than five years from the issue date of the reports.  Requires applicable agencies to assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency.  Assigns priority for the required state facilities' cost-effective energy efficiency measures to first responder facilities.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 423

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 700

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Government Operations and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 700 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Accounting and General Services to assess the potential and feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state facility and submit reports to the Legislature detailing the Department's findings;

     (2)  Require state facilities to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the required reports no later than five years from the report's issue date;

     (3)  Require applicable agencies to assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs that can provide emergency services and be open to the general public during times of emergency; and

     (4)  Assign priority for the required state facilities' cost-effective energy efficiency measures to first responder facilities.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from 350Hawaii.org, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Green Peace Hawaii, Green Party of Hawaiʻi, and nine individuals.

     Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committees find that increasingly frequent and violent natural disasters caused by climate change necessitate developing the State's resiliency.  Significant investments in infrastructure and capacity-building will be required to prepare the State to weather these storms.  This measure begins the preparation process by requiring a feasibility study on developing resilience hubs. 

     Your Committees note that S.B. No. 412, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2025, which your Committees recently recommended passage, requires each state agency to expeditiously use energy efficient lighting and the Hawaii State Energy Office to provide technical assistance to state agencies for the transition, with priority given to first responder facilities, and conduct a compliance survey of all state agencies with technical assistance from the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Therefore, your Committees find that portions of this measure are no longer necessary.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have:

          (A)  Required the Department of Accounting and General Services to assess the potential and feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state facility and submit reports to the Legislature; and

          (B)  Required state facilities to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the reports no later than five years from the report's issue date;

     (2)  Inserting language that requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to assess the feasibility of developing resilience hubs in collaboration with state departments, rather than have the state agencies conduct the assessment themselves;

     (3)  Clarifying that the resilience hubs subject to the assessment shall utilize renewable energy when feasible, rather than be equipped with distributed energy resource systems;

     (4)  Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

     (5)  Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2491, to encourage further discussion; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 700, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 700, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,