Report Title:

Renewable Energy Facility

 

Description:

Shortens time within which a state or county agency may process and approve or deny any permit plan application for a renewable energy facility.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

590

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to renewable energy facilities.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Act 207, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, established the renewable energy facility siting process to expedite the processing and approval or denial of any permit plan application for the siting, development, construction, and operation of a renewable energy facility.

     The purpose of this Act is to further expedite the process and give the energy resources coordinator the necessary power and authority to expedite the development of renewable energy facilities, while still protecting the public's health, safety, and welfare.  Specifically, this Act:

     (1)  Reduces the time for processing and approving or denying permits from twelve to six months after acceptance of a complete application; and

     (2)  Automatically approves permit plan applications within twelve months rather than eighteen months if either the permitting agency fails to provide a report identifying diligent measures that it has taken to complete processing and take action on a permit plan application or if no action is taken even with the filing of a report.

     SECTION 2.  Section 201N-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:

     "(f)  The permit plan shall be designed to ensure that all permits identified in the permit plan shall be processed and either denied or approved no later than [twelve] six months after the date that the project permit plan application is accepted by the coordinator, subject to any extensions that may be requested by the applicant.

     (g)  Each appropriate state and county agency shall diligently endeavor to process and approve or deny any permit in the permit plan no later than [twelve] six months after a completed permit plan application is approved by the coordinator.  If a permit is not approved or denied within [twelve] six months after approval of a completed permit plan application, the permitting agency shall provide the coordinator with a report identifying diligent measures that are being taken by the agency to complete processing and take action as soon as practicable.  If a permitting agency fails to provide this report [and] or if the permit has not been approved or denied within [eighteen] twelve months following the approval of a completed permit plan application by the coordinator, the permit shall be deemed approved."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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