Bill Text: HI HB852 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Hawaii State Energy Office.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-25 - Act 122, 06/21/2019 (Gov. Msg. No. 1224). [HB852 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-HB852-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
852 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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C.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that energy composes approximately one-eighth of Hawaii's overall economy. Electric bills for public facilities and public transportation services exceed $400,000,000 annually. Management and direction of the energy sector of the state economy is becoming an increasingly complex and critically important job. According to Hawaii's utilities, successfully achieving one hundred per cent renewable electricity by 2045 is expected to save nearly $6,000,000,000. Additionally, electric vehicles are already cheaper to operate than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Transitioning to clean transportation will save residents billions of dollars. Climate change is expected to cost the State at least $19,000,000,000 in losses from sea level rise alone, making the switch to renewable energy and the ultimate reduction of atmospheric carbon a priority. The State must also handle the need for island resiliency; rapid increase and economic viability of renewable
and distributed energy resources; the digitization, democratization, and inter-connectivity of infrastructure; and the transition to clean transportation systems. These complex realities reveal the need for a state agency responsible for assisting the transition to a clean energy economy to meet Hawaii's climate and cost of living goals.
The legislature further finds that efforts taken by universities, public schools, executive departments, and other government entities have already begun to save taxpayers money by reducing the government's electricity costs. However, those efforts lack statewide coordination, preventing economies of scale to maximize savings. While some departments have made substantial progress, others have yet to commence meaningful activities. Tasking a single agency to plan for energy savings measures across all public facilities and assist government entities already working to reduce energy costs is a necessary step to maximize taxpayer savings.
The legislature further finds that although the state energy office is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing one-eighth of Hawaii's economy, which impacts every business and household, the state energy office lacks an enabling statute, a mission, formal guidance, and reporting accountability. Additionally, appointment of the head of the state energy office, the Hawaii state energy office administrator, is exempt from the senate confirmation process required for the majority of other agency heads.
The legislature's intent is to establish in statute an energy agency with a clear mission, established guidance, transparent reporting, and accountable leadership that will assist both the public and private sectors in achieving the State's energy goals. More specifically, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish the Hawaii state energy office as an attached agency to the department of business, economic development, and tourism and a chief energy officer position within the office;
(2) Transfer the duties and responsibilities of the energy resources coordinator, which are currently assigned to the director of business, economic development, and tourism, along with the functions of the renewable energy facilitator, functions of the existing state energy office, and all employees of the state energy office to the Hawaii state energy office and chief energy officer;
(3) Amend the allowable uses of the energy security special fund for purposes of the office; and
(4) Appropriate funds for operating expenses and establish position ceilings for the office.
PART II
SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Part
. Hawaii state energy
office
§196-A Hawaii state
energy office; established. (a) There is established the Hawaii state energy
office, which shall be a public body politic and an instrumentality and agency
of the State. The office shall be placed
within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for
administrative purposes, pursuant to section 26‑35. The purpose of the Hawaii state energy office
shall be to promote energy efficiency, renewable
energy, and clean transportation to help achieve a resilient clean energy
economy.
(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.
(c) The Hawaii state energy office shall be the State's primary government entity for supporting the clean energy initiative.
(d) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, the Hawaii state energy office shall submit a report to the legislature that includes:
(1) A description of the activities of the Hawaii state energy office in response to the directives established pursuant to subsection (b) and section 196-B(d), along with progress in meeting any of the Hawaii state energy office goals established in or pursuant to this part;
(2) Progress by the State in meeting its energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation goals; and
(3) Proposed legislation, if any.
§196-B Chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office; duties. (a) The Hawaii state energy office shall be led by the chief energy officer, who shall be nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by the governor; provided that the term of the chief energy officer shall be coterminous with the term of the governor.
(b) The chief energy officer shall have:
(1) Experience, knowledge, and expertise in policy, programs, or services related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and energy resiliency related activities and development; and
(2) Experience in a supervisory or administrative capacity.
(c) The chief energy officer shall hire staff necessary to carry out the purposes of this part. The chief energy officer and employees of the Hawaii state energy office shall be exempt from chapter 76 and shall not be considered civil service employees but shall be entitled to any employee benefit plan normally inuring to civil service employees.
(d) Subject to the approval of the governor, the chief energy officer shall:
(1) Formulate, analyze, recommend, and implement specific policies, strategies, and plans, in coordination with public and private sector stakeholders, to cost-effectively and equitably achieve the State's energy goals;
(2) Identify, track, and report key performance measures and milestones related to the State's energy and decarbonization goals;
(3) Provide technical assistance to state and county agencies to assess and implement projects and programs related to energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, energy resiliency, and related measures;
(4) Coordinate the State's energy programs with those of the federal government, other territory and state governments, the political subdivisions of the State, departments of the State, and governments of nations with interest in common energy resources;
(5) Identify market gaps and innovation opportunities, collaborate with stakeholders, and facilitate public-private partnerships to develop projects, programs, and tools to encourage private and public exploration, research, and development of energy resources, distributed energy resources, and data analytics that will support the State's energy and decarbonization goals;
(6) Create and review proposed state actions that may have a significant effect on the State's energy and decarbonization goals, report to the governor their effect on the energy program, and perform other services as may be required;
(7) Evaluate, recommend, and participate in the development of incentives and programs that encourage the development of energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resiliency, distributed energy resources, and clean transportation resources;
(8) Assess and evaluate the effectiveness and continued necessity of existing energy related incentives, tax credits, and programs, and provide recommendations and proposed changes;
(9) Develop and maintain a comprehensive and systematic quantitative and qualitative capacity to analyze the status of energy resources, systems, and markets, both in-state and in other states and countries, particularly in relation to the State's economy, and to recommend, develop proposals for, and assess the effectiveness of policy and regulatory decisions, and energy emergency planning;
(10) Develop and recommend programs for, and assist public agencies in the implementation of, energy assurance and energy resilience;
(11) Support the development, evaluation, revision, and adoption of energy-related codes and standards that advance the State's energy goals;
(12) Act as the State's energy data clearinghouse by identifying, collecting, compiling, analyzing, publishing, and where possible, monetizing energy and clean transportation data and analyses;
(13) Advocate for the State's energy and decarbonization goals at relevant venues and departments, including but not limited to the public utilities commission, legislature, and division of consumer advocacy, to ensure that state energy policies and regulations align with the state strategic goals and are data-driven;
(14) Support economic development and innovation initiatives related to and resulting from the State's renewable energy and distributed energy resources experience, capabilities, and data analyses;
(15) Facilitate the efficient, expedited permitting of energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and energy resiliency projects by:
(A) Coordinating and aligning state and county departments and agencies to support, expedite, and remove barriers to deployment of energy initiatives and projects; and
(B) Identify and evaluate conflicting or onerous policies and rules that unreasonably impede project development and deployment and propose regulatory, legislative, administrative, or other solutions to applicable stakeholders;
(16) Identify and recommend policies to align utility goals with those of ratepayers, including evaluating utility models that best support state energy goals;
(17) Prepare and submit an annual report and other reports as may be requested to the governor and to the legislature on the implementation of this part;
(18) Contract for services when required for the implementation of this part; and
(19) Adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, for the administration of this part."
SECTION
3. Sections 125C-22, 125C-23, 125C-31,
141-9, 196‑5, 196-6.5, 196-11, 196-30, 196-63, 206M-23, 286-172,
304A-1892, and 304A-1894.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are amended by
substituting the term "chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy
office" wherever the term "state energy resources coordinator",
"energy resources coordinator", "coordinator", or
"energy program administrator of the department" appears, as the
context requires.
SECTION 4. Section 196-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read:
""Distributed
energy resources" means a
resource sited close to customers that:
(1) Can provide all
or some of the customers' immediate electric and power needs;
(2) Can be used by
the system to reduce demand or provide supply to satisfy the energy, capacity,
or ancillary service needs of the distribution grid; and
(3) Is connected to
the distribution system and close to load, if the resource provides electricity
or thermal energy.
"Distributed energy resources" includes but is not limited to solar photovoltaic and thermal, wind, combined heat and power, electrical and thermal energy storage, demand response technologies, alternative energy vehicles and related infrastructure, microgrids, energy efficiency, and advanced inverters."
2. By amending the definition of "energy resources" to read:
""Energy
resources" means fuel, and also includes all electrical or thermal energy
produced by combustion of any fuel, or generated [or], produced,
or stored using wind, the sun, geothermal heat, ocean water, falling water,
currents, waves, or any other source."
3. By deleting the definition of "coordinator".
[""Coordinator"
means the energy resources coordinator."]
SECTION 5. Section 201-12.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) Subject to legislative appropriation, moneys
from the fund may be expended by the [department of business, economic
development, and tourism] Hawaii state energy office for the
following purposes and used for no other purposes, except for those set forth
in this section:
(1) To support the Hawaii clean energy initiative
program[, including its energy division, including funding staff positions
within the division,] and projects that [ensure] promote and
advance dependable[, efficient, and economical energy, promote] and
affordable energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy
self-sufficiency, and [provide] greater energy security and
resiliency for the State[;] and public facilities;
[(2) To fund the renewable energy facilitator
pursuant to section 201-12.5 and any other positions necessary for the purposes
of paragraph (1) as determined by the legislature; and
(3)] (2) To
fund, to the extent possible, the [greenhouse gas emissions reduction task
force, climate change task force, grants-in-aid to the economic development
boards of each county, and grants-in-aid to economic development agencies of
each county to meet the stated objectives of the Hawaii clean energy initiative
program.] climate change mitigation and adaptation commission and the
greenhouse gas sequestration task force;
(3) To support achieving the zero emissions
clean economy target set forth in section 225P-5;
(4) To fund the building energy efficiency
revolving loan fund established in section 201-20;
(5) To fund projects and incentives to promote
the adoption of clean transportation technologies, develop clean vehicle
charging infrastructure, and upgrade infrastructure to support the development
of clean vehicle charging infrastructure; and
(6) To fund, to the extent possible, the duties
of the state building code council in section 107-24, as they relate to the
development of energy conservation codes."
SECTION 6. Section 304A-1891, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The director of the institute shall
coordinate the institute's work with the [energy resources coordinator] chief
energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office in carrying out duties
pursuant to section [196-4] 196-B in the area of research and
development of renewable energy sources."
SECTION 7. Section 196-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
["§196-3 Energy resources
coordinator. The director of
business, economic development, and tourism shall serve as energy resources
coordinator."]
SECTION 8. Section 196-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
["§196-4 Powers and duties. Subject to the approval of the governor, the
coordinator shall:
(1) Formulate
plans, including objectives, criteria to measure accomplishment of objectives,
programs through which the objectives are to be attained, and financial
requirements for the optimum development of Hawaii's energy resources;
(2) Conduct
systematic analysis of existing and proposed energy resource programs, evaluate
the analysis conducted by government agencies and other organizations and
recommend programs that represent the most effective allocation of resources
for the development of energy resources;
(3) Formulate and
recommend specific proposals, as necessary, for conserving energy resources,
including the allocation and distribution thereof;
(4) Assist public
and private agencies in implementing energy conservation and efficiency programs, the
development of indigenous energy resources, and related measures;
(5) Coordinate the
State's energy programs with those of the federal government, other state
governments, governments of nations with interest in common energy resources,
and the political subdivisions of the State;
(6) Develop
programs to encourage private and public exploration, research, and development
of indigenous energy resources that will benefit the State;
(7) Conduct public
education programs to inform the public of the energy resources situation, as
it may exist, from time to time and of the government actions taken;
(8) Serve as
consultant to the governor, public agencies, and private industry on
energy-related matters;
(9) Contract for
services when required for the implementation of this chapter;
(10) Review proposed
state actions that the coordinator finds to have significant effect on the
State's energy objectives and report to the governor their effect on the energy
program, and perform other services as may be required by the governor and the
legislature;
(11) Prepare and
submit an annual report and other reports as may be requested to the governor
and to the legislature on the implementation of this chapter and all matters
related to energy resources;
(12) Formulate
a systematic process, including the development of requirements, to identify
geographic areas that are rich with renewable energy resource potential that
can be developed in a cost-effective and environmentally benign manner and designate
these areas as renewable energy zones;
(13) Develop
and recommend incentives, plans, and programs to encourage the development of
renewable energy resource projects within the renewable energy zones;
(14) Assist
public and private agencies in identifying utility transmission projects or
infrastructure required to accommodate and facilitate the development of
renewable energy resources;
(15) Assist
public and private agencies, in coordination with the department of budget and
finance, in accessing the use of special purpose revenue bonds to finance the
engineering, design, and construction of transmission projects and
infrastructure that are deemed critical to the development of renewable energy
resources;
(16) Develop
the criteria or requirements for identifying and qualifying specific
transmission projects and infrastructure that are critical to the development
of renewable energy resources, including providing assistance in accessing the
use of special purpose revenue bonds to finance the projects or infrastructure;
(17) Develop
and maintain a comprehensive and systematic quantitative and qualitative
capacity to analyze the status of energy resources, systems, and markets, both
in-state and those to which Hawaii is directly tied, particularly in relation
to the State's economy, and to recommend, develop proposals for, and assess the
effectiveness of policy and regulatory decisions, and conduct energy emergency
planning; and
(18) Adopt
rules for the administration of this chapter pursuant to chapter 91."]
SECTION 9. Section 201-12.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
["§201-12.5 Renewable energy facilitator; establishment;
duties. (a)
There is established within the department of business, economic
development, and tourism the position of renewable energy facilitator, which
shall be a full-time, temporary position exempt from chapters 76 and 89. The renewable energy facilitator shall
possess a requisite level of knowledge and expertise in the areas of renewable
energy, state and county permitting processes, and management necessary to
carry out the duties of the position.
(b) The renewable energy facilitator shall have
the following duties:
(1) Facilitate
the efficient permitting of renewable energy projects, including:
(A) The
land parcel on which the facility is situated;
(B) Any
renewable energy production structure or equipment;
(C) Any
energy transmission line from the facility to a public utility's electricity
system; and
(D) Any
on-site infrastructure necessary for the production of electricity or biofuel
from the renewable energy site;
(2) Initiate
the implementation of key renewable energy projects by permitting various
efficiency improvement strategies identified by the department;
(3) Administer
the day-to-day coordination for renewable energy projects on behalf of the
department; and
(4) Submit
periodic reports to the legislature on renewable energy facilitation
activities.
(c) The renewable energy facilitator position
shall be funded by the energy security special fund."]
PART III
SECTION 10. Unless otherwise clear from the context, as used in this Act:
"Expending agency" means the executive department, independent commission, bureau, office, board, or other establishment of the state government (other than the legislature, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and judiciary), the political subdivisions of the State, or any quasi‑public institution supported in whole or in part by state funds, which is authorized to expend specified appropriations made by this Act.
Abbreviations, where used to denote the expending agency, shall mean the following:
BED Department of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism
"Means of financing" or "MOF" means the source from which funds are appropriated or authorized to be expended for the programs and projects specified in this Act. All appropriations are followed by letter symbols. Such letter symbols, where used, shall have the following meanings:
A general funds
T trust funds
"Position ceiling" means the maximum number of permanent and temporary full-time equivalent positions authorized for a particular program during a specified period or periods, as denoted by an asterisk for permanent full-time equivalent positions and a pound sign for temporary full-time equivalent positions.
"Program ID" means the unique identifier for the specific program and consists of the abbreviation for the organization responsible for carrying out the program followed by the organization number for the program.
SECTION 11. The following sums, or so much thereof as may be sufficient to accomplish the purposes and programs designated herein, are hereby appropriated or authorized, as the case may be, from the means of financing specified to the expending agencies designated for the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2021. The total expenditures and the number of positions in each fiscal year of the biennium shall not exceed the sums and the position ceilings indicated for each fiscal year, except as provided elsewhere in this Act or as provided by general law.
1. BED120 –
HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE
5.00* 5.00*
22.00# 22.00#
OPERATING BED 2,818,077A 2,818,077A
BED 240,000T 240,000T
PART IV
SECTION 12. Section 243-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) In addition to any other taxes provided by
law, subject to the exemptions set forth in section 243-7, there is hereby
imposed a state environmental response, energy, and food security tax on each
barrel or fractional part of a barrel of petroleum product sold by a
distributor to any retail dealer or end user of petroleum product, other than a
refiner. The tax shall be $1.05 on each
barrel or fractional part of a barrel of petroleum product that is not aviation
fuel; provided that of the tax collected pursuant to this subsection:
(1) 5 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be
deposited into the environmental response revolving fund established under
section 128D-2;
(2) [15] 5 cents of the tax on each
barrel shall be deposited into the energy security special fund established
under section 201-12.8;
(3) 10 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be
deposited into the energy systems development special fund established under
section 304A-2169.1; and
(4) 15 cents of the tax on each barrel shall be
deposited into the agricultural development and food security special fund
established under section 141-10.
The tax imposed by this subsection shall be paid by the distributor of the petroleum product."
PART V
SECTION 13. There is appropriated out of the energy security special fund the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 for the purposes of conducting a study of carbon pricing, including whether and how a carbon pricing policy shall be implemented in Hawaii.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii state energy office for the purposes of this Act.
PART VI
(1) Civil service status, whether permanent or temporary; and
(2) Salary, seniority (except as may be prescribed by applicable collective bargaining agreement), retention points, prior service credit, any vacation and sick leave credits previously earned, and other rights, benefits, and privileges, in accordance with state personnel laws;
provided further that the positions as described in section 76-16(b)(17), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall continue to be exempt from the provisions of chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
SECTION 15. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, provided that the funds appropriated in this Act may be transferred with the approval of the governor to the General Appropriations Act of 2019 (House Bill No. 2, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D.1), for program execution and expenditure.
SECTION 16. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 17. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 18. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
Report Title:
Hawaii State Energy Office; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Hawaii State Energy Office and Chief Energy Officer position in Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT). Repeals Director of DBEDT's function as Energy Resources Coordinator and Renewable Energy Facilitator. Transfers Coordinator, Facilitator, and existing DBEDT energy office employees and functions to the Office. Amends allowable uses and funding amount of the Energy Security Special Fund. Appropriates operating funds and establishes position ceilings for the Office. Appropriates funds for a carbon pricing study. (HB852 CD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
