Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SCR161 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 161 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION requesting the public utilities commission to respond to Hawaiian Electric's request to suspend, deprioritize, and delay the commencement of community-based renewable energy projects through Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program and order hawaiian electric to continue to deploy and pursue community-based renewable energy projects based upon THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION'S findings.
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3	3	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 161
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.C.R. NO.
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11	11	161
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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29	29	SENATE CONCURRENT
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31	31	RESOLUTION
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37	37	requesting the public utilities commission to respond to Hawaiian Electric's request to suspend, deprioritize, and delay the commencement of community-based renewable energy projects through Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program and order hawaiian electric to continue to deploy and pursue community-based renewable energy projects based upon THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION'S findings.
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43	43	WHEREAS, section 269-27.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires each electric utility to file a proposed community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs with the Public Utilities Commission by October 1, 2015, and establish a community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs, provided that the tariff or tariffs are found to be in the public interest; and WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy projects are allowed to utilize public utilities' transmission infrastructure to provide energy to subscribers that may live in a different area from where the renewable energy is being produced; and WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy projects allow those who are unable to install solar energy systems because of cost restraints, because they do not own their residence, or because they reside in condominiums or other properties that cannot accommodate the systems; and WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy, or "shared solar", can help the State decrease its reliance on fossil fuels and move toward energy independence and make the transition to renewable energy more equitable regardless of income; and WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy projects can also allow subscribers to lower their electric bills without making large, upfront investments of financial resources and can benefit underserved groups, specifically seniors and low- to moderate-income families; and WHEREAS, approximately five community-based renewable energy projects have been installed since 2015, and thirteen community-based renewable energy projects in Phase 2, Tranche 1 were to be installed from 2024 to 2026; and WHEREAS, in October 2023, the Public Utilities Commission directed Hawaiian Electric to provide a status update regarding the impact of the August 2023 Maui wildfires on its Community-Based Renewable Energy Program; and WHEREAS, in the November 15, 2023 status update, Hawaiian Electric notes that although the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program was not directly impacted by the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the customer management aspect of the Program requires additional time to develop after commercial operations in order to draw and apply lessons from it to Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Program, which would establish additional community-based renewable energy projects; Hawaiian Electric therefore recommends that Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Program be paused, deprioritized, and delayed to allow for completion of existing projects to commercial operation and to continue to identify and evaluate lessons learned from Phase 1 and Phase 2, Tranche 1 of the Program; and WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission has not yet responded to Hawaiian Electric's recommendation as set forth in its November 15, 2023 update; and WHEREAS, this body believes that Hawaiian Electric has had more than eight years to prepare for the implementation of its Community-Based Renewable Energy Program, has taken best practices for implementation from numerous other states, and does not require any additional time to continue deployment of shared solar to those communities in great need; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to respond to Hawaiian Electric's request to suspend, deprioritize, and delay the commencement of community-based renewable energy projects through Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to issue informational requests to Hawaiian Electric for further details and clarification as to the specific reasons and timing for its request to suspend, deprioritize, and delay this important program that can help communities that need it the most; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to issue informational requests to Hawaiian Electric to determine a reasonable date for recommencing the continued procurement of community-based renewable energy projects; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to order Hawaiian Electric to continue the deployment of community-based renewable energy projects through Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program based upon the Public Utilities Commission's determination of a reasonable date; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to order Hawaiian Electric to revoke the suspension of procurement and continue to issue requests for proposals for the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program based upon its findings; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiian Electric; Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects
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45	45	WHEREAS, section 269-27.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires each electric utility to file a proposed community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs with the Public Utilities Commission by October 1, 2015, and establish a community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs, provided that the tariff or tariffs are found to be in the public interest; and
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49	49	WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy projects are allowed to utilize public utilities' transmission infrastructure to provide energy to subscribers that may live in a different area from where the renewable energy is being produced; and
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53	53	WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy projects allow those who are unable to install solar energy systems because of cost restraints, because they do not own their residence, or because they reside in condominiums or other properties that cannot accommodate the systems; and
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57	57	WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy, or "shared solar", can help the State decrease its reliance on fossil fuels and move toward energy independence and make the transition to renewable energy more equitable regardless of income; and
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61	61	WHEREAS, community-based renewable energy projects can also allow subscribers to lower their electric bills without making large, upfront investments of financial resources and can benefit underserved groups, specifically seniors and low- to moderate-income families; and
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65	65	WHEREAS, approximately five community-based renewable energy projects have been installed since 2015, and thirteen community-based renewable energy projects in Phase 2, Tranche 1 were to be installed from 2024 to 2026; and
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69	69	WHEREAS, in October 2023, the Public Utilities Commission directed Hawaiian Electric to provide a status update regarding the impact of the August 2023 Maui wildfires on its Community-Based Renewable Energy Program; and
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73	73	WHEREAS, in the November 15, 2023 status update, Hawaiian Electric notes that although the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program was not directly impacted by the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the customer management aspect of the Program requires additional time to develop after commercial operations in order to draw and apply lessons from it to Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Program, which would establish additional community-based renewable energy projects; Hawaiian Electric therefore recommends that Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Program be paused, deprioritized, and delayed to allow for completion of existing projects to commercial operation and to continue to identify and evaluate lessons learned from Phase 1 and Phase 2, Tranche 1 of the Program; and
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77	77	WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission has not yet responded to Hawaiian Electric's recommendation as set forth in its November 15, 2023 update; and
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81	81	WHEREAS, this body believes that Hawaiian Electric has had more than eight years to prepare for the implementation of its Community-Based Renewable Energy Program, has taken best practices for implementation from numerous other states, and does not require any additional time to continue deployment of shared solar to those communities in great need; now, therefore,
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85	85	BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to respond to Hawaiian Electric's request to suspend, deprioritize, and delay the commencement of community-based renewable energy projects through Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program; and
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89	89	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to issue informational requests to Hawaiian Electric for further details and clarification as to the specific reasons and timing for its request to suspend, deprioritize, and delay this important program that can help communities that need it the most; and
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93	93	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to issue informational requests to Hawaiian Electric to determine a reasonable date for recommencing the continued procurement of community-based renewable energy projects; and
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97	97	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to order Hawaiian Electric to continue the deployment of community-based renewable energy projects through Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program based upon the Public Utilities Commission's determination of a reasonable date; and
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101	101	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to order Hawaiian Electric to revoke the suspension of procurement and continue to issue requests for proposals for the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program based upon its findings; and
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105	105	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric.
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113	113	OFFERED BY: _____________________________
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117	117	OFFERED BY:
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131	131	Report Title:
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133	133	Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiian Electric; Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects