Bill Text: HI SCR99 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Geothermal Energy; Working Group

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-20 - (S) Resolution adopted in final form. [SCR99 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR99-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1363-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   S.C.R. No. 99

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 99 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO ANALYZE THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AS THE PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE TO MEET THE BASELOAD DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY ON THE BIG ISLAND,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the County of Hawaii establish a working group to analyze the potential for geothermal energy to be the primary energy supply to meet the baseload electricity demand for the Big Island.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, the Hawaii County Council, Hawaiian Electric Light Company, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the ILWU Local 142, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, and eleven individuals. Comments were submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Puna Geothermal Venture.

 

     Hawaii is the third most oil dependent state in the nation, with ninety per cent of the State's energy coming from imported oil. The goal of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative is to reduce the dependence on oil by having seventy per cent of the State's energy come from renewable resources and energy efficiency by 2030. Geothermal is a steady and renewable source of clean energy, and is more reliable than intermittent solar and wind.

 

     Your committee finds that the abundance of geothermal resources on the Big Island indicates a potential for geothermal to be a main source of energy for that island. Geothermal would reduce energy costs for residents, move the State towards energy independence, and also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 99 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

		____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair