STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2352

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2520

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2520 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize native Hawaiian lessees of Hawaiian homestead land to sublease a portion of their land to renewable energy producers.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one organization and one individual.  Two state agencies submitted comments.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Many lessees of Hawaiian homestead land have expressed an interest in using their leased land for renewable energy generation.  Wind energy, for example, is consistent with agricultural uses of land and can provide economic benefits to the lessees.  The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands acknowledges that homestead farmers have inquired about pursuing additional revenue through sublease agreements for renewable energy projects.  Your Committees find that this measure can serve two important purposes: helping Hawaii meet its Clean Energy Initiative goal of seventy per cent renewable energy by 2030 and providing an opportunity for homesteaders to earn additional revenue. 

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by adopting the recommendation of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to require any sublessee, in addition to indemnifying the lessee, Department, and State, to also procure sufficient insurance to defend against any claims arising out of or resulting from activities carried out on subleased land.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2520, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2520, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair

 

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair