Bill Text: HI SCR156 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 156 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The State Auditor To Conduct A Performance And Financial Audit Of The Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, Including The Hawaii Green Energy Market Securitization Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-25 - The committee on EET deferred the measure. [SCR156 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SCR156-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	156
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the state auditor to conduct a performance and financial audit of the hawaii green infrastructure authority, including the hawaii green energy market securitization program.

WHEREAS, building Hawaii's clean energy infrastructure at the lowest possible cost is vital to the State reaching its goal of one hundred percent clean energy by 2045; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority was created in 2013 to address the need for significant investment in clean energy technologies to achieve Hawaii's clean energy goals and to identify innovative ways to increase access to clean energy; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to section 196-64, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the functions, powers, and duties of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority are as follows:

(1) Make loans and expend funds to finance the purchase or installation of green infrastructure equipment for clean energy technology, demand response technology, and energy use reduction and demand side management infrastructure, programs, and services;

(2) Hold and invest moneys in the green infrastructure special fund in investments as permitted by law and in accordance with approved investment guidelines established in one or more orders issued by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to section 269-171, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(3) Hire employees necessary to perform its duties, including an Executive Director;

(4) Enter into contracts for the service of consultants for rendering professional and technical assistance and advice, and any other contracts that are necessary and proper for the implementation of the loan program;

(5) Enter into contracts for the administration of the loan program, without the necessity of complying with the Hawaii Public Procurement Code;

(6) Establish loan program guidelines to be approved in one or more orders issued by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to section 269-171, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(7) Be audited at least annually by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, and provide the results of this audit to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Public Utilities Commission; and

(8) Perform all functions necessary to effectuate the purposes of part IV of chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) Program was created by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; and

WHEREAS, the GEMS Program brings clean energy technologies to Hawaii ratepayers, including those who are underserved, by providing innovative financing products that result in electricity bill savings for customers with no money down; and

WHEREAS, the GEMS Program is intended to create a sustainable financing structure through market driven public-private partnerships that will open access to financing for more Hawaii customers and democratize access to clean energy; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a performance and financial audit of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, including the Hawaii Green Energy Market Securitization Program, to ensure that the Authority is fulfilling its functions, powers, and duties pursuant to section 196-64, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor 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 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Executive Director of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; and State Auditor.