Report Title:

Photovoltaic Systems; State and County Permits

 

Description:

Requires expedited residential and commercial building permit or for any state permit approval process for installation of photovoltaic systems.  Provides for approval by law if permit application is not granted or denied within sixty days for existing structures and within one hundred twenty days for new structures.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

585

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO renewable energy.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 46-19.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§46-19.4  Priority permitting process for renewable energy projects.[](a)  All agencies shall provide priority handling and processing for all county permits required for renewable energy projects.

     (b)  Agencies shall expedite handling and processing of building permits to install photovoltaic energy systems, whether residential or commercial; provided that an application for a building permit under this subsection shall be deemed approved, if within sixty days of receipt of the application for a building permit for an existing structure or one hundred twenty days for a new structure, the agency has not taken action to grant or deny the application, notwithstanding section 91-13.5.

     (c)  For purposes of this section[, "agencies"]:

     "Agencies" means any executive department, independent commission, board, bureau, office, or other establishment of a county, or any quasi-public institution that is supported in whole or in part by county funds.

     "Photovoltaic energy systems" means any identifiable facility, equipment, apparatus, or the like, that makes use of solar energy for heating, cooling, or reducing the use of other types of energy dependent upon fossil fuel for generation, but not including skylights or windows."

     SECTION 2.  Section 196-1.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§196-1.5  Priority permitting process for renewable energy projects.[](a)  All agencies shall provide priority handling and processing for all state permits required for renewable energy projects.

     (b)  Agencies shall expedite handling and processing of  permits to install photovoltaic energy systems, whether residential or commercial; provided that an application for a  permit under this subsection shall be deemed approved, if within sixty days of receipt of the application for a permit for an existing structure or one hundred twenty days for a new structure, the agency has not taken action to grant or deny the application, notwithstanding section 91-13.5.

     (c)  For purposes of this section[, "agencies"]:

     "Agencies" means any executive department, independent commission, board, bureau, office, or other establishment of the State, or any quasi-public institution that is supported in whole or in part by state funds.

     "Photovoltaic energy systems" means any identifiable facility, equipment, apparatus, or the like, that makes use of solar energy for heating, cooling, or reducing the use of other types of energy dependent upon fossil fuel for generation, but not including skylights or windows."

     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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