Bill Text: HI SB2289 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Renewable Energy; Agricultural Land; Hydroelectric Facilities

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-17 - (S) Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WLH. [SB2289 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2289-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2409

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2289

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2289 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 authorize hydroelectric facilities as a permitted use on all classes of lands within state agricultural land use districts.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaiian Electric Company.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committees find that the development of hydroelectric energy-generating facilities in Hawaii is vital to the energy security and energy independence of the State.  Increased use of renewable energy resources will achieve broad societal benefits, including resistance to increases in oil prices, environmental sustainability, economic development, and job creation.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding the legislature's findings regarding food security in the purpose section;

 

     (2)  Specifying that hydroelectric facilities, if on agricultural land, must be on land that meets certain requirements and that the facilities must meet certain requirements as well; and

 

     (3)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2289, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2289, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, and Housing.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture,

 

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair		____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair