Bill Text: HI HCR90 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting The Public Utilities Commission To Protect The Public Interest When Reviewing The Potential Acquisition Of Hawaii Gas By An External Entity.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Thursday 03-19-20 9:00AM in conference room 325. [HCR90 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HCR90-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
90 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
requesting the public utilities commission to protect the
public interest when reviewing the potential acquisition of hAwaii gas by an
external entity.
WHEREAS, Hawaii Gas has been the only franchised gas utility in Hawaii since 1904, serving more than sixty thousand customers throughout the State; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii Gas primarily processes and distributes synthetic natural gas, liquified petroleum gas, and liquefied natural gas; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii Gas currently has one renewable natural gas production facility in operation on Oahu that transforms waste material from the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant into renewable natural gas, which it blends with gas in its pipelines; and
WHEREAS, through Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, the State recognized the importance of eliminating fossil fuels, including petroleum- and natural gas-derived products, and transitioning to renewable sources of energy across all sectors, resulting in one hundred percent of Hawaii's electricity coming from renewable sources by 2045; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii also established a goal of transitioning to a zero-emissions clean and carbon-neutral economy by 2045 through Act 15, Session Laws of Hawaii of 2018; and
WHEREAS, the State currently has no mandate for a gas utility to uphold the same set of standards established for an electric utility regarding the transition to renewable sources, or to consider the State's commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize the economy; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii Gas recently announced that the company is for sale; and
WHEREAS, it is of the utmost importance that any prospective buyer of Hawaii Gas be committed to accelerating renewable natural gas production, and to exploring all options for lower-carbon alternatives to liquefied natural gas, synthetic natural gas, and liquified petroleum gas, and be ready and willing to be an ally in helping Hawaii achieve its clean‑energy and decarbonization goals; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii Gas is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, whose role is to protect the public interest by overseeing and regulating public utilities to ensure that they provide reliable service at just and reasonable rates; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the Senate concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to protect the public interest when reviewing the potential acquisition of Hawaii Gas by determining whether:
(1) The prospective buyer would serve in the best interests of the State's economy and the communities served by Hawaii Gas;
(2) The prospective buyer, if approved, provides significant, quantifiable benefits to Hawaii Gas's ratepayers in both the short and the long term;
(3) The proposed transaction, if approved, will demonstrate a commitment to the transition to renewable natural gas; and
(4) The prospective buyer is committed to upholding the State policy regarding clean energy and decarbonization of the economy, or whether the prospective buyer is likely to try to influence policy in order to benefit ratepayers or the company itself; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission.
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OFFERED BY: |
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PUC
