STAND. COM. REP. NO. 183

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1707

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 1707 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SEAWATER AIR CONDITIONING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to exempt seawater air conditioning district cooling systems from public utility code regulation, provided that at least 50 percent of the energy required for the system is provided by a renewable energy source.

The Honolulu Seawater Air Condition LLC, testified in support of this bill. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Public Utilities Commission provided comments on this bill.

Your Committee finds that seawater air conditioning projects can help advance our state energy policy goal of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and providing these projects with exemptions from PUC regulations will generate more interest in using this alternative source of energy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1707 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair