SB 964: RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that using waste‑to‑energy technology is a promising strategy for reducing the State's solid waste stream.  Waste-to-energy facilities divert waste from landfills while extracting energy and valuable materials for recycling.  Nationally, there are seventy-six waste-to-energy facilities that process up to ninety-four thousand tons of solid waste per day.  This produces enough energy each day to power the equivalent of 2,300,000 homes.  The legislature believes that a waste-to-energy facility would help the State meet its goal of reducing the solid waste stream while developing sustainable energy sources.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to authorize the Hawaii state energy office to establish a public-private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below eight hundred thousand.

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The Hawaii state energy office [shall]:

     (1)  [Provide] Shall provide analysis and planning to actively develop and inform policies to achieve energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation goals with the legislature, public utilities commission, state agencies, and other relevant stakeholders;

     (2)  [Lead] Shall lead efforts to incorporate energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation to reduce costs and achieve clean energy goals across all public facilities;

     (3)  [Provide] Shall provide renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy resiliency, and clean transportation project deployment facilitation to assist private sector project completion when aligned with state energy goals; [and]

     (4)  [Engage] Shall engage the private sector to help lead efforts to achieve renewable energy and clean transportation goals through the Hawaii clean energy initiative[.]; and

     (5)  May establish a public-private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below eight hundred thousand."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

Report Title:

Hawaii State Energy Office; Counties; Waste-to-Energy; Solid Waste Diversion; Sustainable Energy

Description:

Authorizes the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a public‑private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below 800,000.  (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 Waste-to-Energy.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that using waste‑to‑energy technology is a promising strategy for reducing the State's solid waste stream.  Waste-to-energy facilities divert waste from landfills while extracting energy and valuable materials for recycling.  Nationally, there are seventy-six waste-to-energy facilities that process up to ninety-four thousand tons of solid waste per day.  This produces enough energy each day to power the equivalent of 2,300,000 homes.  The legislature believes that a waste-to-energy facility would help the State meet its goal of reducing the solid waste stream while developing sustainable energy sources.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the Hawaii state energy office to establish a public-private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below eight hundred thousand.

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The Hawaii state energy office shall:

     (1)  Provide analysis and planning to actively develop and inform policies to achieve energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation goals with the legislature, public utilities commission, state agencies, and other relevant stakeholders;

     (2)  Lead efforts to incorporate energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, and clean transportation to reduce costs and achieve clean energy goals across all public facilities;

     (3)  Provide renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy resiliency, and clean transportation project deployment facilitation to assist private sector project completion when aligned with state energy goals; [and]

     (4)  Engage the private sector to help lead efforts to achieve renewable energy and clean transportation goals through the Hawaii clean energy initiative[.]; and

     (5)  Establish a public-private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below eight hundred thousand."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

Report Title:

Hawaii State Energy Office; Counties; Waste-to-Energy; Solid Waste Diversion; Sustainable Energy

Description:

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a public‑private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below 800,000.

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. 981

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 964

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 964, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a public-private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population of less than eight hundred thousand.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Heartland Water Technology, IBEW Local Union 1186, Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, and eight individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Circular Hawaii, Energy Justice Network, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and Climate Protectors Hawaii, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, HECA Solid Waste Task Force, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Life of the Land, Mr. K's Recycle and Redemption Center Inc., Recycle Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation, Sustainable Kohala, Zero Waste Kauai, 350 Hawaii, and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Hawaiian Electric.

     Your Committee finds that using waste-to-energy technology can help reduce the State's solid waste stream by diverting waste from landfills while producing energy and extracting valuable materials for recycling.  Accordingly, your Committee finds that the authorization in this measure to develop waste-to-energy facilities will help the State meet its goals of reducing the solid waste stream and increasing the production of sustainable energy.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 964, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 21

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 964

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 964 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a public‑private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below eight hundred thousand.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaiʻi, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Energy Justice Network, 350Hawaii, Waihu O Puna Watershed Coalition, Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter, Recycle Hawaii, Clean the Pacific, Hawaii Environmental Change Agents' Solid Waste Reduction Task Force, and thirty-one individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Hawaiian Electric.

     Your Committee finds that using waste-to-energy technology is a promising strategy for reducing the State's solid waste stream and increasing energy production.  Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony regarding the risks of solid waste incineration, but notes that this measure should continue as a vehicle through the legislative process to seek to relieve the State's need for landfill space while also helping the State reach its ambitious renewable energy goals.  Your Committee further notes that engaging with private partners to fund a waste-to-energy generating facility would positively leverage state resources and facilitate collaboration to address the State's landfill crisis and non-renewable energy dependence.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a public‑private partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below eight hundred thousand; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 964, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 964, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,