Gov signs energy bills

Representative Hermina Morita, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, today issued the following statement on Governor Lingle’s signing of four energy bills:

“I am pleased to learn that Governor Lingle has signed into law these important energy bills. They are all critical pieces to our preferred clean energy future.

I am also anxiously awaiting her action and support of House Bill 1271 because it is the lynch pin, providing the organizational structure, funding and staffing, in achieving our long-term energy and food security strategy.

The Legislature recognized in the passage of House Bill 1271 that to achieve clean energy and food security we need to make critical infrastructure investments and this can only be done through consistent, dedicated funding and sustained political will.”


The bills, with legislative summaries, are:

SB 868 signed as Act 153. Addresses deficiencies in Hawaii's energy resources coordination statutes. Provides policy guidance to ensure adequate detail on the nature and relationship of the energy data analysis functions of the state energy resources coordinator and energy program.

SB 464 signed as Act 154. Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit to encourage use of solar and wind energy systems and to permit a portion of the excess of the credit over payments due to be refunded to the taxpayer in certain circumstances. Reduces the tax credit for certain energy systems used to meet substitute renewable energy technology requirements for single-family residential properties.

HB 1464 signed as Act 155. Provides for and encourages renewable energy use and development, and energy efficiency, including increasing requirements for renewable energy portfolio standard, expanding duties of the energy resources coordinator, establishing energy efficiency portfolio standards, requiring energy-efficient state buildings, requiring sellers to provide electricity-cost information, and appropriating funds from the Renewable Energy Facility Siting Special Fund.

SB 1202 signed as Act 156. Establishes the development of non-fossil fuel transportation as a state policy goal. Requires the designation of parking spaces for electric vehicles and provides penalties for parking a non‑electric vehicle in reserved spaces. Requires State and county agencies to follow a priority list when purchasing energy-efficient vehicles, including electric vehicles. Includes requirements for developing an electric vehicle infrastructure. Establishes the Transportation Energy Transformation Grant Fund Program. Eff. 7/1/2009.

Harvesting the Sun

Sunday, June 21st, was not only Father's Day and the Summer Solstice, it was the start of Solar Heating Week - June 21 - 27, 2009. Last week, Rep. Hermina Morita, chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, joined Lt. Governor Aiona and representatives from Hawaiian Electric Co. in the Executive Chambers for the signing of the proclamation.

This legislative session, Rep. Morita introduced HB1464, a comprehensive bill to align the state's energy laws with the state's renewable energy policies and goals. The bill is currently before the Governor awaiting signature. If enacted, the bill takes effect on July 1, 2009. Here are some of the major points:

*Electric utility companies will be required to establish a renewable portfolio standard of their net electricity sales - 10% by December 31, 2010, 15% by December 31, 2015, 25% by December 31, 2020, and 40% by December 31, 2030.

*After December 31, 2014, the entirety of the renewable portfolio standard shall be met by electrical generation using renewable energy sources.

*Directs the Energy Resource Coordinator to identify geographical areas within the state that contain energy resources and designate energy resource zones. Develop incentive programs to encourage projects.

*Appropriates $1 million for each year of the biennium, FY10-11, for the Renewable Energy Facility Siting Special Fund.

*By December 2010, require state buildings more than 5,000 s.f. or that use more than 8,000 kilowatts annually to be benchmarked and used as a basis to determine the State's investment in improving the energy efficiency of public buildings.

*Require public buildings to be retro-commissioned at least once every 5 years.

*Establishes the Building Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to provide low to no-interest loans to public, private and non-profit borrowers for energy efficiency improvements and projects.

*Clarifies the solar water heater requirement for new homes.

Legislature in the News: From Barrel tax to Budget to Karen's Law

HB1552 - Kahana Valley Bill
Bill to allow Kahana leases could win Legislature's OK - Honolulu Advertiser

HB1713 - Hazard Mitigation Bill
Negligent property owners targeted - Honolulu Advertiser

HB200 - State Budget
Lawmakers hope to balance the budget as the end of session nears – KHON2
Lawmakers will work overtime for budget – Star Bulletin
No deal for state, OHA on lands - Honolulu Advertiser
Hawaii lawmakers agree on budget – Honolulu Advertiser
Legislature's Budget Includes $800 Million In Cuts – KITV4
Budget showdown ramps up over tax hikes – KHON2
Battle over Balancing the State Budget – KGMB9
State lawmakers turn in costly bills – KITV4
State Lawmakers Reject Gas Tax, Fee Hike – KITV4

HB1271 - Barrel Tax
Barrel Tax Bill Could Net State $31 Million – KGMB9
New Hawaii petroleum tax hike likely to raise gas prices: Increase could generate $31M annually for clean energy, food programs - Honolulu Advertiser

HB1744 - County Hotel Room Tax
Counties will continue to get TAT funds – Maui News

SB1673 - Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
CEO Lo: It’s new day for hospital – Maui News

HB819 - Karen's Law
Karen's Law fails for 2nd straight year – Honolulu Advertiser
'Karen's Law' Doesn't Pass; Pine Blames Oshiro – KGMB9
Karen's Law Killed – KFVE

Legislature
Lawmakers Extend Legislative Session – KITV4

A Case for Wind Power

You may not have heard of Rock Port, Missouri, but it will go down in history as the first city in the U.S. to be totally, 100%, powered by the wind. In fact, the wind power generated is more than the city needs, and it exports 23% to nearby towns.

The Loess Hills Wind Farm is built on agricultural lands, with four 1.25 Megawatt Suzlon turbines, producing about 16 million kilowatt hours per year, more than enough to serve the entire communtiy of Rock Port - population 1,395.

The turbines need wind of at least 9 miles per hour to begin production and the maximum output of power is achieved at 14 miles per hour.

While the wind energy will not lower energy bills, it will hedge against rising energy costs in the future. One report claims that Rock Port residents will see stabilized energy costs for the next 25 years.

Hawaii is in good position to encourage similar alternative energy projects. The legislature passed HB2863 this year which establishes a renewable energy siting process designed to expedite the permitting process for facilities that generate at least 200 megawatts of electricity. It establishes a renewable energy siting special fund, with an initial appropriation of $100,000, for an energy resources coordinator in the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, to implement, staff, and manage the project.

Where are the windiest places in Hawaii? Check out this site which provides wind data with facility siting in mind. Seems like every major island has capacity for wind power, and the areas with the best potential are the south and north shores of Kauai; Oahu's mountain ridges; Molokai's west end; the south shore of Maui's middle; the north half of Lanai; Kohala mountain (north end) of the Big Island; and the southern tip of the Big Island.