SR 115: requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a geothermal energy working group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in hawaii.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a geothermal energy working group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in hawaii.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has committed to achieving a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard by 2045 under section 269-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and has made significant progress in the development of renewable energy resources; and

     WHEREAS, however, the State remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, creating high energy costs and economic vulnerability and increasing the urgency to accelerate the development of local firm renewable energy resources; and

     WHEREAS, on January 29, 2025, the Governor issued an executive order that recommits the State to its one hundred percent renewable portfolio standard goal, while setting a new goal to accelerate renewable energy for neighbor island communities and directing state departments to streamline and accelerate permitting to reduce energy costs and project timelines; and

     WHEREAS, ninety-one percent of respondents in a statewide public opinion survey on energy in Hawaii expressed their support for the expansion of renewable energy resources throughout the State, with the importance of developing Hawaii's own energy resources emphasized by respondents across all counties; and

     WHEREAS, geothermal energy provides a stable, firm, and dispatchable source of renewable power, capable of supporting grid stability and resilience while reducing dependence on imported oil; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has substantial geothermal potential, particularly on Hawaii Island, and there is growing interest in responsibly developing community-led geothermal resources to contribute to the State's clean energy goals and support community development; and

     WHEREAS, despite its potential, geothermal energy in Hawaii has been hindered by regulatory uncertainty, permitting challenges, land use restrictions, and public concerns that require careful consideration and engagement; and

     WHEREAS, a coordinated, transparent, and community‑inclusive process is essential to evaluating the role of geothermal energy in Hawaii and identifying a clear development pathway that aligns with state policy, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Energy Office is the lead agency for energy policy and planning and is well-positioned to convene stakeholders and provide guidance on challenges and opportunities relevant to geothermal energy technology; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii State Energy Office is requested to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The Chief Energy Officer, or the Chief Energy Officer's designee, who is requested to serve as chairperson of the working group;

     (2)  The Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committee and House of Representatives Standing Committee whose subject matter purview includes energy, or their designees;

     (3)  The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (4)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

     (6)  The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (7)  The Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, or the Executive Director's designee;

     (8)  The Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (9)  A representative from the University of Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center;

    (10)  A representative from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu;

    (11)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Maui;

    (12)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii;

    (13)  A representative from an electric utility, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

    (14)  A representative from the geothermal industry, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

    (15)  A representative from a non-governmental organization with experience in energy policy, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

    (16)  A representative from the Native Hawaiian community, who is requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group; and

    (17)  Other members, as invited by the chairperson of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

     (1)  Identify key regulatory, policy, and permitting challenges affecting geothermal energy in Hawaii;

     (2)  Review best practices from other jurisdictions with successful geothermal energy programs and consider best practices of Pacific island countries such as New Zealand;

     (3)  Assess the potential for geothermal expansion and its role in supporting energy resilience and affordability; and

     (4)  Provide recommendations to the Legislature and Governor on policy and regulatory reforms necessary to establish a clear and efficient pathway for geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Energy Office is requested to submit a report of the working group's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chief Energy Officer; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Health; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; Director of the University of Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Planning Department of the County of Maui; and Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

Hawaii State Energy Office; Geothermal Energy; Working Group; Report

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a geothermal energy working group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in hawaii.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has committed to achieving a one hundred percent renewable energy portfolio standard by 2045 under section 269-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and has made significant progress in the development of renewable energy resources; and

     WHEREAS, however, the State remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, creating high energy costs and economic vulnerability and increasing the urgency to accelerate the development of local firm renewable energy resources; and

     WHEREAS, on January 29, 2025, the Governor issued an executive order that recommits the State to its one hundred percent renewable portfolio standard goal, while setting a new goal to accelerate renewable energy for neighbor island communities and directing state departments to streamline and accelerate permitting to reduce energy costs and project timelines; and

     WHEREAS, ninety-one percent of respondents in a statewide public opinion survey on energy in Hawaii expressed their support for the expansion of renewable energy resources throughout the State, with the importance of developing Hawaii's own energy resources emphasized by respondents across all counties; and

     WHEREAS, geothermal energy provides a stable, firm, and dispatchable source of renewable power, capable of supporting grid stability and resilience while reducing dependence on imported oil; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has substantial geothermal potential, particularly on Hawaii Island, and there is growing interest in responsibly developing community-led geothermal resources to contribute to the State's clean energy goals and support community development; and

     WHEREAS, despite its potential, geothermal energy in Hawaii has been hindered by regulatory uncertainty, permitting challenges, land use restrictions, and public concerns that require careful consideration and engagement; and

     WHEREAS, a coordinated, transparent, and community-inclusive process is essential to evaluating the role of geothermal energy in Hawaii and identifying a clear development pathway that aligns with state policy, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Energy Office is the lead agency for energy policy and planning and is well-positioned to convene stakeholders and provide guidance on challenges and opportunities relevant to geothermal energy technology; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii State Energy Office is requested to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The Chief Energy Officer, or the Chief Energy Officer's designee, who is requested to serve as chairperson of the working group;

     (2)  The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (3)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

     (4)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (6)  The Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (7)  A representative from the University of Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center;

     (8)  A representative from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu;

     (9)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Maui;

    (10)  A representative from the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii;

    (11)  A representative from an electric utility;

    (12)  A representative from the geothermal industry;

    (13)  A representative from a non-governmental organization with experience in energy policy; and

    (14)  Other members, as invited by the chair; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

     (1)  Identify key regulatory, policy, and permitting challenges affecting geothermal energy in Hawaii;

     (2)  Review best practices from other jurisdictions with successful geothermal energy programs and consider best practices of Pacific island countries such as New Zealand;

     (3)  Assess the potential for geothermal expansion and its role in supporting energy resilience and affordability; and

     (4)  Provide recommendations to the Legislature and Governor on policy and regulatory reforms necessary to establish a clear and efficient pathway for geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Energy Office is requested to 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 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chief Energy Officer; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Health; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; Director of the University of Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Director of the Planning Department of the County of Maui; and Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

Geothermal Energy; Working Group; Hawaii State Energy Office

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1546

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 115

       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.R. No. 115 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO CONVENE A GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE REGULATORY AND POLICY LANDSCAPE SURROUNDING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii State Energy Office to:

     (1)  Convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group to evaluate the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding geothermal energy in Hawaii; and

     (2)  Submit a report of the working group's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2026.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Public Utilities Commission; Coalition Earth; Waika Consulting; Ulupono Initiative; and one individual.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Energy Justice Network, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii State Energy Office.

     Your Committee finds that, to progress towards the State's goal of a one hundred percent renewable portfolio standard by 2045, new and innovative approaches must be evaluated.  Your Committee recognizes that geothermal energy has the potential to play a significant role in meeting Hawaii's energy objectives of reliability, affordability, and diversification, and that the State could benefit from further evaluation of this renewable energy source.  This measure aims to provide a coordinated, transparent, and community-inclusive process to evaluate and identify any clear development pathways for this alternative firm renewable energy resource that aligns with state policy, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity.

     Your Committee notes that, although the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is statutorily mandated to represent, protect, and advance the interests of all consumers of utility services in the State, it is not represented in the current composition of the working group requested to be convened in this measure.  Your Committee further acknowledges concerns that the composition of the working group proposed in this measure, in its current form, may not adequately represent the Native Hawaiian community.  Your Committee also notes that an extension to the submission date of the report requested by this measure is appropriate to align with the ongoing exploration of geothermal energy resources in the State.  Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the following members to the working group:

          (A)  The Chairpersons of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees whose subject matter purview includes energy, or their designees;

          (B)  The Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, or the Executive Director's designee; and

          (C)  A representative from the Native Hawaiian community;

     (2)  Clarifying that private members of the working group are requested to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

     (3)  Extending the deadline to submit a report to the Legislature to twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

     (4)  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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 115, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 115, S.D. 1.

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