Hawaii Senate Bill SR135

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

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.

Impact

If implemented, the bill aims to ensure that Hawaiian Electric continues to work on deploying community-based renewable energy projects rather than delaying them. According to the resolution, community-based projects not only benefit the environment by promoting renewable energy but can also lower electricity bills for subscribers, particularly aiding low- to moderate-income families and seniors. The committee believes that the PUC must act promptly, given that Hawaiian Electric has had sufficient time to prepare for these developments.

Summary

Senate Resolution 135 requests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to respond to Hawaiian Electric's proposal to pause, deprioritize, and delay the commencement of community-based renewable energy projects under Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program. This program is crucial for providing renewable energy solutions to underserved communities, particularly those that cannot invest in personal solar installations due to financial constraints or property limitations. The resolution emphasizes the importance of these projects for achieving Hawaii's goal of energy independence and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Contention

A notable point of contention within the discussions surrounding SR135 relates to the aftermath of the August 2023 Maui wildfires and how these events may have affected the Community-Based Renewable Energy Program. Hawaiian Electric cited the need for additional time to evaluate lessons learned from the existing phases of the program. However, the Senate appears to believe that Hawaiian Electric’s rationale for delaying the project lacks urgency and demands quick action from the PUC to keep the renewable energy momentum going, given the long history of project delays in Hawaii.