STAND. COM. REP. NO. 803

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 523

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 523, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Public Utilities Commission

 

G.M. No. 523

HERMINA MORITA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Speaker of the House of Representatives; a retired member of the House of Representatives; the Mayor of the County of Kauai; the Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauai; the Chair of the Honolulu City Council; the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission; the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Enterprise Honolulu; The Hawaii Business League; the World Business Academy; Young Brothers, Limited; Hawaii Transportation Association; PAHIO Development, Inc.; Grove Farm Company, Inc.; Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; SolarCity; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; the Blue Planet Foundation; Castle & Cooke Renewable Energy; Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Kairos Energy Capital LLC; The Solar Alliance; Hawaii BioEnergy, LLC; Keahole Solar Power, LLC; The Gas Company; Tesoro Hawaii Corporation; Hawaii Association of REALTORS; the ILWU Local 142; the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; Hawaii LECET; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Rosehill & Associates; Haiku Design and Analysis; Better Place, Inc.; I Love Kalihi Valley; the Plumbers and Fitters Union, Local 675; and twenty-three private individuals.  Your Committee received a written statement from the nominee.

 

     Your Committee finds that this nominee is a proven leader and a recognized authority on energy and utility regulatory issues.  Having served as Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection since 1999, the nominee has developed comprehensive knowledge of the issues involved in the State's energy market.  Your Committee also finds that as a long-time advocate within the Legislature for renewable energy, the nominee has spearheaded innovative efforts to comply with the State's clean energy goals through introducing legislation and serving as an ex officio member of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum.  Your Committee further notes that many testifiers in support of the nominee acknowledged the nominee's fairness and openness in listening to and carefully considering the opinions and perspectives of others, including those with whom she may personally disagree, when making important policy decisions.  Finally, your Committee finds the nominee has demonstrated a willingness and ability to educate herself on new issues and to seek out opportunities to learn from experts around her.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Public Utilities Commission is currently going through a transition that involves implementing a legislatively-enabled staff reorganization and funding increase, the growing recognition of the Public Utilities Commission's vital role in the State's economic development, and a fundamental shift in the State's regulatory environment due to the transition to a renewable energy-based economy and the rapid development of some areas on the neighbor islands.  Your Committee further notes that in the nominee's actions within the Legislature, she has always recognized the appropriate role of the Public Utilities Commission as a regulator and economic catalyst as well as the importance of supporting the Commission's reorganization and revitalization.  Your Committee finds that the nominee has the requisite credibility, knowledge, and proactive leadership ability to allow the Commission to fulfill its duties of protecting the public interest while serving as a critical economic driver for the State.  Finally, your Committee notes that, while not determinative of its decision to recommend the appointment of this nominee, the nominee's representation of the neighbor island community will be an important asset to the Public Utilities Commission, which has for too long lacked participation by Commissioners from outside of Oahu.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair