Bill Text: HI SB259 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 259 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Offshore Drilling.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-12 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB259 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB259-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	259
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO OFFSHORE DRILLING.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the federal government through the executive authority of the President has proposed a program to vastly expand offshore drilling for oil or natural gas. This program includes opening up Pacific ocean waters near Alaska and the western coast of the continental United States to potential offshore oil or natural gas drilling.

The legislature further finds that, although Hawaii has no proven petroleum or natural gas reserves or production, the State does produce petroleum products and crude oil is refined within the State. The feedstock used to refine crude oil is most often light sweet crude oil imported from producers in the Pacific rim.

The legislature additionally finds that while petroleum fired power plants supplied more than three-fourths of Hawaii's utility-scale net electricity generation for most of the past twenty years, the prominence of petroleum generated electricity has declined recently. In 2014, for the first time, net generation from petroleum was below seventy per cent. In 2016, petroleum fueled two-thirds of the State's net generation.

The legislature also finds that the State is committed to the promotion and development of renewable and sustainable energy. Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, established a goal of one hundred per cent renewable energy in Hawaii by December 31, 2045.

The purpose of this Act is to prohibit:

(1) Offshore drilling for oil or natural gas in state marine waters; and

(2) Issuance of permits for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with offshore drilling for oil or natural gas in state waters.

SECTION 2. Chapter 190D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§190D- Offshore oil and gas exploration in state waters; applications in support of oil and gas exploration; prohibited. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, offshore drilling for oil or natural gas shall be prohibited in state marine waters.

(b) No permit shall be issued for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with offshore drilling for oil or natural gas within state waters."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.

Report Title:

Offshore Drilling; Oil and Natural Gas; State Waters; Infrastructure; Prohibition

Description:

Prohibits offshore drilling for oil or natural gas in state marine waters. Prohibits issuance of permits for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with offshore drilling for oil or natural gas in state waters. Takes effect 12/31/2050. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.