Relating To Renewable Energy.
If enacted, SB781 will fundamentally alter the permitting landscape for solar energy projects in Hawaii. It requires that government entities notify the state's energy office upon achieving compliance with this mandate and implement a self-certification process for projects that are not compatible with the SolarAPP+. This means that a greater number of solar installations can proceed without the extended delays caused by the conventional approval process, aligning with Hawaii's 2045 objective of achieving a complete switch to renewable energy sources.
Senate Bill 781 (SB781) aims to eliminate administrative barriers that hinder the deployment of renewable energy, particularly focusing on solar energy generation and storage systems in Hawaii. The legislation mandates that all government entities involved in building permits must adopt the SolarAPP+ or a similar online automated permitting platform. This is intended to streamline the permit process, ensuring that permits for solar distributed energy resource systems can be issued in real-time, significantly reducing waiting periods and costs associated with traditional permitting methods.
The bill also addresses issues related to outdated permitting cost exemptions that have not been updated since 1979, highlighting the need for an adjustment to reflect economic inflation. While supporters argue that this will foster renewable energy adoption and help Hawaii transition from fossil fuels, concerns may arise regarding the effectiveness of self-certification standards and maintaining safety codes. Critics worry that rushing the permitting process could lead to inadequate oversight, potentially compromising safety and compliance standards for new installations.